Spectrometry system applications

ABSTRACT

A spectrometer system may be used to determine one or more spectra of an object, and the one or more spectra may be associated with one or more attributes of the object that are relevant to the user. While the spectrometer system can take many forms, in many instances the system comprises a spectrometer and a processing device in communication with the spectrometer and with a remote server, wherein the spectrometer is physically integrated with an apparatus. The apparatus may have a function different than that of the spectrometer, such as a consumer appliance or device.

CROSS-REFERENCE

The present application is a continuation of International PatentApplication No. PCT/IL2016/050129, filed Feb. 4, 2016, entitled“SPECTROMETRY SYSTEM APPLICATIONS”, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/112,597, filed on Feb. 5, 2015,entitled “Spectrometry System Performance and Characteristics ofApplications”, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/112,582, filedon Feb. 5, 2015, entitled “Embedded Applications for SpectrometrySystem”, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/190,535, filed onJul. 9, 2015, entitled “Smartphone-Integrated Spectrometer”, the entiredisclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in thisspecification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent asif each individual publication, patent, or patent application wasspecifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Spectrometers are used for many purposes. For example, spectrometers areused in the detection of defects in industrial processes, satelliteimaging, and laboratory research. However, these instruments havetypically been too large and too costly for the consumer market.

Spectrometers detect radiation from a sample and process the resultingsignal to obtain and present information about the sample that includesspectral, physical and chemical information about the sample. Theseinstruments generally include some type of spectrally selective elementto separate wavelengths of radiation received from the sample, and afirst-stage optic, such as a lens, to focus or concentrate the radiationonto an imaging array.

The prior spectrometers can be less than ideal in at least somerespects. Prior spectrometers having high resolution can be larger thanideal for use in many portable applications. Although priorspectrometers with decreased size have been proposed, the priorspectrometers having decreased size and optical path length can haveless than ideal resolution, sensitivity and less accuracy than would beideal. Also, the cost of prior spectrometers can be greater than wouldbe ideal. The prior spectrometers can be somewhat bulky, difficult totransport and the optics can require more alignment than would be idealin at least some instances. Because of their size and cost, priorspectrometers can be difficult to integrate into other consumerappliances or devices in which a spectrometer may be useful.

Further, data integration of prior spectrometers with measured objectscan be less than ideal in at least some instances. For example, althoughprior spectrometers can provide a spectrum of a measured object, thespectrum may be of little significance to at least some users. It wouldbe helpful if a spectrum of a measured object could be associated withattributes of the measured object that are useful to a user. Forexample, although prior spectrometers may be able to measure sugar, itwould be helpful if a spectrometer could be used to determine thesweetness of an object such as an apple. Many other examples exist wherespectral data alone does not adequately convey relevant attributes of anobject, and it would be helpful to provide attributes of an object to auser in response to measured spectral data.

Prior spectrometer apparatus can be less than ideally suited for atleast some applications. For example, a hand held spectrometer apparatusmay be less than ideally suited for at least some embedded applications.Also, the prior spectrometer methods and apparatus may be less thanideally integrated with a measurement environment.

In light of the above, an improved spectrometer and interpretation ofspectral data that overcomes at least some of the above mentioneddeficiencies of the prior spectrometers would be beneficial. Ideally,such a spectrometer would be compact, capable of being physicallyintegrated with other consumer appliances or devices, sufficientlyrugged and low in cost to be practical for end-user spectroscopicmeasurements of items, and convenient to use. Ideally, such a compactspectrometer would have sufficient sensitivity for the use of thespectrometer in specific applications. Further, it would be helpful toprovide data comprising attributes of measured objects related to thespectral data of the objects to many people. It would also be useful toprovide a compact spectrometer with decreased dependence on an internetconnection at the time of measurement for the analysis of measurementdata.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides improved spectrometer systems andmethods. A spectrometer system may be used to determine one or morespectra of an object, and the one or more spectra may be associated withone or more attributes of the object that are relevant to the user.While the spectrometer system can take many forms, in many instances thesystem comprises a spectrometer and a processing device in communicationwith the spectrometer and with a remote server. The spectrometer can beconfigured to measure the spectra of a sample while the processingdevice is not connected to the remote server, so that spectralmeasurements can be performed whether or not a user of the spectrometersystem has access to an internet connection. The spectrometer system canbe configured to have a sensitivity that makes the system suitable foruse in various specific applications, such as the detection of melaminecontaminants in milk, the detection of urine components for urineanalysis, and the detection of oxidation levels of edibles oils.

The spectrometer may comprise a compact hand held spectrometer.Alternatively, the spectrometer may be physically integrated with anapparatus, wherein the apparatus may have a function different than thatof the spectrometer, such as a consumer appliance or device. Theprocessing device may comprise instructions to transmit the spectraldata of the sample to the remote server and receive object data inresponse. The object data may be displayed to the user through theprocessing device, the spectrometer, or the apparatus with which thespectrometer is integrated. Such physical integration of thespectrometer system with a consumer appliance or device can provide aconvenient way for users to measure the spectra of sample objects.

In one aspect, a system to measure spectra of a sample comprises aspectrometer to measure the spectra of the sample and a processingdevice coupled to the spectrometer. The processing device comprises aprocessor and a wireless communication circuitry to couple to thespectrometer and communicate with a remote server. The processorcomprises instructions to transmit spectral data of the sample to theremote server and receive object data in response to the spectral datafrom the remote server. The spectrometer is functionally integrated witha smartphone, and information obtained with the spectrometer is providedto a functional feature of the smartphone to improve a performance ofthe functional feature of the smartphone.

The functional feature of the smartphone may comprise a softwareapplication installed in the smartphone and configured to provide one ormore services to a user of the smartphone. The information obtained withthe spectrometer may comprise one or more of an identification of thesample, an identification of one or more components of the sample, aquantification of the sample, a quantification of one or more componentsof the sample, and a determination of one or more secondarycharacteristics of the sample. The software application may use theinformation obtained with the spectrometer to improve an accuracy orreliability of the service provided to the user, or to increase aquantity or quality of information provided to the user.

The functionality of the smartphone may comprise a camera, and theinformation obtained with the spectrometer may be provided to the camerato improve a color correction algorithm of the camera. The colorcorrection algorithm may comprise a white balancing algorithm. Theinformation obtained with the spectrometer may comprise one or moreillumination types of one or more sources of illumination present in ascene imaged by the camera, wherein the one or more illumination typesmay be determined via an analysis of the spectral data of the sceneobtained with the spectrometer. The spectrometer or another computingdevice in communication with the spectrometer may be configured todetermine the one or more illumination types by identifying one or morespectral signatures of the one or more illumination types present in anear-infrared spectrum of the spectral data of the scene.

In another aspect, a system to measure spectra of a sample may comprisea spectrometer to measure the spectra of the sample and a processingdevice coupled to the spectrometer, wherein the spectrometer isphysically integrated with an apparatus. The processing device maycomprise a processor and a wireless communication circuitry to couple tothe spectrometer and communicate with a remote server. The processor maycomprise instructions to transmit spectral data of the sample to theremote server and receive object data in response to the spectral datafrom the remote server. The apparatus with which the spectrometer isintegrated may comprise a function that does not comprise measuring thespectra of the sample.

The spectrometer may comprise a stand-alone unit that is removablycoupled to a portion of the apparatus. The stand-alone spectrometer maybe sized to fit within a hand of the user to allow the user to aim thespectrometer at the sample and measure the sample. The stand-alonespectrometer may be removably coupled to a docking station disposed onthe portion of the apparatus to which the spectrometer is coupled. Thedocking station may be configured to charge a battery of thespectrometer when the spectrometer is coupled to the docking station.

The spectrometer may be non-removably coupled to a portion of theapparatus. One or more components of the spectrometer may be arranged ina custom configuration to fit a specific size or shape of the apparatus.

The processing device may comprise a mobile communication device.Alternatively or in combination, the processing device may comprise aportion of the apparatus, or a portion of the spectrometer.

The apparatus may comprise a refrigerator. The spectrometer may beremovably coupled to a handle of a refrigerator door, or to an interiorcompartment of the refrigerator. One or more of the processor of theprocessing device or a processor of the remote server may compriseinstructions to determine one or more of a freshness, safety, or qualityof the sample. The refrigerator may further comprise a display screen,configured to display the object data received from the remote server.The display screen may be disposed on a door of the refrigerator, forexample. The object data received from the remote server may comprise anindication of one or more of a freshness, safety, or quality of thesample. The object data received from the remote server may furthercomprise a recommendation for a course of action related to the sample.

The apparatus may comprise a mobile phone case. The mobile phone casemay comprise an aperture to accommodate a camera of a mobile phonecoupled to the mobile phone case, and the spectrometer may be configuredto have a field of view disposed on a same plane as a field of view ofthe camera. The field of view of the spectrometer and the field of viewof the camera may at least partially overlap.

In another aspect, a compact spectrometer may be functionally integratedwith a smartphone having one or more functional features, such that thespectrometer and the smartphone may mutually benefit from thefunctionality provided by one another. For example, asmartphone-integrated spectrometer can use one or more functionalfeatures of the smartphone, such as a camera, an accelerometer, or aglobal positioning system (GPS), to enhance the performance of thespectrometer. Conversely, the smartphone-integrated spectrometer canaugment one or more functionalities of the smartphone, for exampleenhance the performance of a smartphone camera.

In another aspect, a system to measure spectra of a sample comprises aspectrometer and a mobile communication device. The spectrometer may beconfigured to measure the spectra of the sample. The mobilecommunication device may comprise a processor and wireless communicationcircuitry to couple to the spectrometer and communicate with a remoteserver. The processor can comprise instructions to transmit spectraldata of the sample to the remote server. The mobile communication devicemay be configured to transmit the spectral data to the remote serverwhen the mobile communication device is connected to the remote server.

The spectrometer may be configured to measure the spectra of the samplewhile the mobile communication device is not connected to the remoteserver. The mobile communication device may be configured to checkwhether connection to the remote server is available. The check may beperformed at a regular interval, or the check may be performed when theuser instructs a user interface of the mobile communication device toperform the check. The mobile communication device may be configured totransmit the spectral data to the remote server when the checkdetermines that a connection to the remote server is available. Themobile communication device may be further configured to synchronizewith a database stored on the remote server when the mobilecommunication device is connected to the remote server.

The remote server may comprise a processor having one or more dataanalysis algorithms stored thereon. The mobile communication device maybe configured to download the one or more data analysis algorithms fromthe remote server when the mobile communication device is connected tothe remote server. The mobile communication device may be furtherconfigured to check whether the processor of the mobile communicationdevice has data analysis algorithms stored thereon.

The spectral data transmitted to the remote server may comprise rawspectral data, wherein the spectrometer is configured to measure thespectra of the sample while the mobile communication device is notconnected to the remote server. The remote server may be configured toanalyze the raw spectral data using one or more spectral data analysisalgorithms stored on a memory of the remote server. The remote servermay be further configured to add the analyzed spectral data to adatabase stored on the remote server, and to transmit the analyzedspectral data back to the mobile communication device for display to theuser.

The spectral data transmitted to the remote server may comprise analyzedspectral data, wherein the spectrometer is configured to measure thespectra of the sample while the mobile communication device is notconnected to the remote server. The analyzed spectral data may compriseraw spectral data analyzed by the processor of the mobile communicationdevice. The processor of the mobile communication device may analyze theraw spectral data using one or more data analysis algorithms storedthereon. The one or more data analysis algorithms may be downloaded fromthe remote server, or developed by a user of the system.

The spectral data may further comprise metadata. The metadata mayinclude one or more of a date, time, location, temperature, and physicalproperty of the sample.

One or more of the processor of the mobile communication device or aprocessor of the remote server may comprise instructions to determine aconcentration of melamine in milk. The system may be configured todetect at least about 2 ppm, at least about 100 ppm, or at least about5000 ppm of melamine.

One or more of the processor of the mobile communication device or aprocessor of the remote server may comprise instructions to determine aconcentration of one or more of sodium, potassium, and creatinine inurine. The system may be configured to detect concentrations of sodiumof about 10 g/l or less, or about 1.2 g/l or less. The system may beconfigured to detect concentrations of potassium of about 4 g/l or less,or about 0.6 g/l or less. The system may be configured to detectconcentrations of creatinine of about 2.6 g/l or less, or about 0.4 g/lor less.

One or more of the processor of the mobile communication device or aprocessor of the remote server may comprise instructions to determine acomposition level of one or more of total polar compounds or free fattyacids in edible oils. The system may be configured to detect compositionlevels of total polar compounds of about 27% or less, or about 25% orless. The system may be configured to detect compositions levels of freefatty acids of about 2% or less.

In another aspect, a method of measuring spectra of a sample comprisesproviding a spectrometer to measure the spectra of the sample, andproviding a mobile communication device. The mobile communication devicemay comprise a processor and wireless communication circuitry to coupleto the spectrometer and communicate with a remote server. The processorof the mobile communication device may comprise instructions to transmitspectral data of the sample to the remote server. The method furthercomprises measuring the spectra of the sample while the mobilecommunication device is not connected to the remote server. The methodfurther comprises transmitting the spectral data from the mobilecommunication device to the remote server when the mobile communicationdevice is connected to the remote server.

In another aspect, a method may comprise providing the system of any oneof the configurations described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a compact spectrometer, in accordancewith configurations.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a spectrometer system, in accordancewith configurations.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the compact spectrometer of FIG. 1,in accordance with configurations.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an optical layout in accordance withconfigurations.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a spectrometer head, in accordancewith configurations.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic drawing of cross-section A of the spectrometerhead of FIG. 5, in accordance with configurations.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic drawing of cross-section B of the spectrometerhead of FIG. 5, in accordance with configurations.

FIG. 8 shows an isometric view of a spectrometer module in accordancewith configurations.

FIG. 9 shows the lens array within the spectrometer module, inaccordance with configurations.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of thespectrometer head, in accordance with configurations.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of thespectrometer head, in accordance with configurations.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic diagram of a cross-section of the spectrometerhead of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows an array of LEDs of the spectrometer head of FIG. 11arranged in rows and columns, in accordance with configurations.

FIG. 14 shows a schematic diagram of a radiation diffusion unit of thespectrometer head of FIG. 11, in accordance with configurations.

FIGS. 15A and 15B show examples of design options for the radiationdiffusion unit of FIG. 13, in accordance with configurations.

FIG. 16 shows a schematic diagram of the data flow in the spectrometer,in accordance with configurations.

FIG. 17 shows a schematic diagram of the data flow in the hand helddevice, in accordance with configurations.

FIG. 18 shows a schematic diagram of the data flow in the cloud basedstorage system, in accordance with configurations.

FIG. 19 shows a schematic diagram of the flow of the user interface(UI), in accordance with configurations.

FIG. 20 illustrates an example of how a user may navigate throughdifferent components of the UI of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21A shows an exemplary mobile application UI screen correspondingto a component of the UI of FIG. 19.

FIGS. 21B and 21C show an exemplary mobile application UI screencorresponding to components of the UI of FIG. 19.

FIGS. 22A-22F show a method for a processor of a hand held device toprovide the user interface of FIG. 19, in accordance withconfigurations.

FIG. 23 shows a method for performing urine analysis using aspectrometer system in accordance with configurations.

FIG. 24 shows exemplary spectra of plums and cheeses, suitable forincorporation in accordance with configurations.

FIG. 25 shows exemplary spectra of cheeses comprising various fatlevels, suitable for incorporation in accordance with configurations.

FIG. 26 shows exemplary spectra of plums comprising various sugarlevels, suitable for incorporation in accordance with configurations.

FIG. 27 shows exemplary spectra of aqueous solutions comprising variouslevels of creatinine, suitable for incorporation in accordance withconfigurations.

FIG. 28 shows exemplary spectra of aqueous solutions comprising variouslevels of sodium, suitable for incorporation in accordance withconfigurations.

FIG. 29 shows exemplary spectra of aqueous solutions comprising variouslevels of potassium, suitable for incorporation in accordance withconfigurations.

FIG. 30 shows a schematic diagram of an off-line mode of operation ofthe compact spectrometer, wherein the raw data is stored locally forlater analysis.

FIG. 31 shows a schematic diagram of an off-line mode of operation ofcompact spectrometer, wherein the raw data is analyzed locally.

FIG. 32 shows a schematic diagram of an off-line mode of operation ofcompact spectrometer for developers.

FIGS. 33A and 33B illustrate a spectrometer system integrated into arefrigerator.

FIGS. 34A and 34B illustrate a spectrometer system integrated into amobile phone case.

FIG. 34C illustrates a spectrometer system integrated into a mobilephone.

FIG. 35 illustrates the parallax between the illumination module of asmartphone-integrated spectrometer and the smartphone camera.

FIGS. 36A-36C illustrate the visualization of the parallax between theillumination module and the smartphone camera via a display of thesmartphone camera.

FIG. 37 illustrates a method of using a smartphone-integratedspectrometer as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, various aspects of the invention will bedescribed. For the purposes of explanation, specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. Itwill be apparent to one skilled in the art that there are otherembodiments of the invention that differ in details without affectingthe essential nature thereof. Therefore the invention is not limited bythat which is illustrated in the figure and described in thespecification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims, withthe proper scope determined only by the broadest interpretation of saidclaims.

A better understanding of the features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be obtained by reference to the following detaileddescription that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which theprinciples of embodiments of the present disclosure are utilized, andthe accompanying drawings.

The configurations disclosed herein can be combined in one or more ofmany ways to provide improved spectrometer methods and apparatus. One ormore components of the configurations disclosed herein can be combinedwith each other in many ways. A spectrometer as described herein can beused to generate spectral data of the object, and the spectral data ofthe object transmitted to a cloud based server in order to determine oneor more attributes of the object. Alternatively or in combination, dataof the cloud based server can be made available to both users andnon-users of the spectrometers in order to provide useful informationrelated to attributes of measured objects. The data of the cloud basedserver can be made available to users and non-users in many ways, forexample with downloadable apps capable of connecting to the cloud basedserver and downloading information related to spectra of many objects.

The configurations disclosed herein are also capable of providing adatabase of attributes of many objects related to spectral data. Amobile communication device can be configured for a user to inputattributes of one or more measured objects in order to construct adatabase based on spectral data of many measured objects.

As used herein, like characters refer to like elements. As used herein,the term “light” encompasses electromagnetic radiation havingwavelengths in one or more of the ultraviolet, visible, or infraredportions of the electromagnetic spectrum. As used herein, the term“dispersive” is used, with respect to optical components, to describe acomponent that is designed to separate spatially, the differentwavelength components of a polychromatic beam of light. Non-limitingexamples of “dispersive” optical elements by this definition includediffraction gratings and prisms. The term specifically excludes elementssuch as lenses that disperse light because of non-idealities such aschromatic aberration or elements such as interference filters that havedifferent transmission profiles according to the angle of incidentradiation. The term also excludes the filters and filter matrixesdescribed herein. As used herein, the term “store” encompasses astructure that stores objects, such as a crate or building.

The dimensions of an optical beam as described herein can be determinedin one or more of many ways. The size of the beam may comprise a fullwidth half maximum of the beam, for example. The measurement beam maycomprise blurred edges, and the measurement area of the beam definingthe measurement area of the sample may comprise a portion of the beamextending beyond the full width half maximum of the beam, for example.The dimensions of the aiming beam can be similarly determined.

Overview of Compact Spectrometer System

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a compact spectrometer 102, inaccordance with configurations. The spectrometer 102 can be used as ageneral purpose material analyzer for many applications, as described infurther detail herein. In particular, the spectrometer 102 can be usedto identify materials or objects, provide information regarding certainproperties of the identified materials, and accordingly provide userswith actionable insights regarding the identified materials. Thespectrometer 102 comprises a spectrometer head 120 configured to bedirected towards a sample material S. The spectrometer head 120comprises a spectrometer module 160, configured to obtain spectralinformation associated with the sample material S. The spectrometer head120 may also comprise a sensor module 130, which may, for example,comprise a temperature sensor. The spectrometer may comprise simplemeans for users to control the operation of the spectrometer, such asoperating button 1006. The compact size of the spectrometer 102 canprovide a hand held device that can be directed (e.g., pointed) at amaterial to rapidly obtain information about the material. For example,as shown in FIG. 1, the spectrometer 102 may be sized to fit inside thehand H of a user.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a spectrometer system, in accordancewith configurations. In many instances, the spectrometer system 100comprises a spectrometer 102 as described herein and a hand held device110 in wireless communication 116 with a cloud based server or storagesystem 118. The spectrometer 102 can acquire the data as describedherein. The hand held spectrometer 102 may comprise a processor 106 andcommunication circuitry 104 coupled to the spectrometer head 120 havingspectrometer components as described herein. The spectrometer cantransmit the data to the hand held device 110 with communicationcircuitry 104 with a communication link, such as a wireless serialcommunication link, for example Bluetooth™. The hand held device canreceive the data from the spectrometer 102 and transmit the data to thecloud based storage system 118. The data can be processed and analyzedby the cloud based server 118, and transmitted back to the hand helddevice 110 to be displayed to the user. In addition, the analyzedspectral data and/or related additional analysis results may bedynamically added to a universal database operated by the cloud server118, where spectral data associated with sample materials may be stored.The spectral data stored on the database may comprise data generated byone or more users of the spectrometer system 100, and/or pre-loadedspectral data of materials with known spectra. The cloud server maycomprise a memory having the database stored thereon.

The spectrometer system may allow multiple users to connect to the cloudbased server 118 via their hand held devices 110, as described infurther detail herein. In some instances, the server 118 may beconfigured to simultaneously communicate with up to millions of handheld devices 110. The ability of the system to support a large number ofusers and devices at the same time can allow users of the system toaccess, in some instances in real-time, large amounts of informationrelating to a material of interest. Access to such information mayprovide users with a way of making informed decisions relating to amaterial of interest.

The hand held device 110 may comprise one or more components of a smartphone, such as a display 112, an interface 114, a processor, a computerreadable memory and communication circuitry. The device 110 may comprisea substantially stationary device when used, such as a wirelesscommunication gateway, for example.

The processor 106 may comprise a tangible medium embodying instructions,such as a computer readable memory embodying instructions of a computerprogram. Alternatively or in combination the processor may compriselogic such as gate array logic in order to perform one or more logicsteps.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a compact spectrometer of FIG. 1.The spectrometer 102 may comprise a spectrometer head 120 and a controlboard 105. The spectrometer head 120 may comprise one or more of aspectrometer module 160 and an illumination module 140, which togethercan be configured to measure spectroscopic information relating to asample material as described in further detail herein. The spectrometerhead 120 may further comprise one or more of a sensor module 130, whichcan be configured to measure non-spectroscopic information relating to asample material, such as ambient temperature. The control board 105 maycomprise one or more of a processor 106, communication circuitry 104,and memory 107. Components of the control board 105 can be configured totransmit, store, and/or analyze data, as described in further detailherein.

The sensor module 130 can enable the identification of the samplematerial based on non-spectroscopic information in addition to thespectroscopic information measured by the spectrometer module 160. Sucha dual information system may enhance the accuracy of detection oridentification of the material.

The sensor element of sensor module 130 may comprise any sensorconfigured to generate a non-spectroscopic signal associated with atleast one aspect of the environment, including the material beinganalyzed. For example, the sensor element may comprise one or more of acamera, temperature sensor, electrical sensor (capacitance, resistance,conductivity, inductance), altimeter, GPS unit, turbidity sensor, pHsensor, accelerometer, vibration sensor, biometric sensor, chemicalsensor, color sensor, clock, ambient light sensor, microphone,penetrometer, durometer, barcode reader, flowmeter, speedometer,magnetometer, and another spectrometer.

The output of the sensor module 130 may be associated with the output ofthe spectrometer module 160 via at least one processing device of thespectrometer system. The processing device may be configured to receivethe outputs of the spectrometer module and sensor module, analyze bothoutputs, and based on the analysis provide information relating to atleast one characteristic of the material to a display unit. A displayunit may be provided on the device in order to allow display of suchinformation.

The spectrometer module 160 may comprise one or more lens elements. Eachlens can be made of two surfaces, and each surface may be an asphericsurface. In designing the lens for a fixed-focus system, it may bedesirable to reduce the system's sensitivity to the exact location ofthe optical detector on the z-axis (the axis perpendicular to the planeof the optical detector), in order to tolerate larger variations anderrors in mechanical manufacturing. To do so, the point-spread-function(PSF) size and shape at the nominal position may be traded off with thedepth-of-field (DoF) length. For example, a larger-than-optimal PSF sizemay be chosen in return for an increase in the DoF length. One or moreof the aspheric lens surfaces of each lens of a plurality of lenses canbe shaped to provide the increased PSF size and the increased DoF lengthfor each lens. Such a design may help reduce the cost of production byenabling the use of mass production tools, since mass production toolsmay not be able to meet stringent tolerance requirements associated withsystems that are comparatively more sensitive to exact location of theoptical detector.

In some cases, the measurement of the sample may be performed usingscattered ambient light. In some cases, the spectrometer system maycomprise a light or illumination source, such as illumination module140. The light source can be of any type (e.g., laser, light-emittingdiode, etc.) known in the art appropriate for the spectral measurementsto be made. The light source may emit from 350 nm to 1100 nm. The lightsource may emit from 0.1 mW to 500 mW. The wavelength(s) and intensityof the light source can depend on the particular use to which thespectrometer will be put.

The spectrometer may also include a power source, such as a battery orpower supply. In some instances the spectrometer is powered by a powersupply from a consumer hand held device (e.g. a cell phone). In someinstances the spectrometer has an independent power supply. In someinstances a power supply from the spectrometer can supply power to aconsumer hand held device.

The spectrometer as described herein can be adapted, with proper choiceof light source, detector, and associated optics, for a use with a widevariety of spectroscopic techniques. Non-limiting examples includeRaman, fluorescence, and IR or UV-VIS reflectance and absorbancespectroscopies. Because, as described herein, a compact spectrometersystem can separate a Raman signal from a fluorescence signal, the samespectrometer may be used for both spectroscopies. The spectrometer maynot comprise a monochromator.

Referring again to FIG. 1, a user may initiate a measurement of a samplematerial S using the spectrometer 102 by interacting with a user inputsupported with a casing or container 902 of the spectrometer. The userinput may, for example, comprise an operating button 1006. The casing orcontainer 902 may be sized to fit within a hand H of a user, allowingthe user to hold and aim the spectrometer at the sample material, andmanipulate the user input with the same hand H to initiate measurementof the sample material. The casing or container 902 can house thedifferent parts of the spectrometer such as the spectrometer module 160,illumination module 140, and sensor module 130. The spectrometer modulemay comprise a detector or sensor to measure the spectra of the samplematerial within a field of view 40 of the detector. The detector may beconfigured to have a wide field of view. The illumination module maycomprise a light source configured to direct an optical beam 10 to thesample material S within the field of view 40. The light source may beconfigured to emit electromagnetic energy, comprising one or more ofultraviolet, visible, near infrared, or infrared light energy. The lightsource may comprise one or more component light sources. Theillumination module may further comprise one or more optics coupled tothe light source to direct the optical beam 10 toward the samplematerial S. The one or more optics may comprise one or more of a mirror,a beam splitter, a lens, a curved reflector, parabolic reflector, orparabolic concentrator, as described in further detail herein. Thespectrometer 102 may further comprise a circuitry coupled to thedetector and the light source, wherein the circuitry is configured totransmit the optical beam 10 in response to user interactions with theuser input using hand H holding the spectrometer.

When a user initiates a measurement of a sample material S using thespectrometer 102, for example by pressing the operating button 1006 withhand H, the spectrometer emits an optical beam 10 toward the samplematerial within the field of view 40. When the optical beam 10 hits thesample material S, the light may be partially absorbed and/or partiallyreflected by the sample material; alternatively or in combination,optical beam 10 may cause the sample material to emit light in response.The detector of the spectrometer module 160 may be configured to senseat least a portion of the optical beam 10 reflected back by the sampleand/or light emitted by the sample in response to the optical beam 10,and consequently generate the spectral data of the sample material asdescribed in further detail herein.

The spectrometer 102 may be configured to begin measurement of a samplematerial S with just ambient light, without the optical beam 10. Aftercompleting the measurement with ambient light only, the illuminationmodule 140 of the spectrometer 102 can generate the optical beam 10, andthe spectrometer module 160 can begin measurement of the sample materialwith the optical beam 10. In this case, there may be a brief time lapsebetween the initiation of a measurement, for example by a user pressingthe operating button 1006, and the generation of the optical beam 10 andthe visible portions thereof. The ambient light-only measurement can beused to reduce or eliminate the contribution of ambient light in thespectral data of the sample material S. For example, the measurementmade with ambient light only can be subtracted from the measurement madewith the optical beam 10.

A portion of the optical beam 10 that is reflected from the samplematerial S may be visible to the user; this visible, reflected portionof optical beam 10 may define the measurement area 50 of the samplematerial S. The measurement area 50 of the sample may at least partiallyoverlap with and fall within the field of view 40 of the detector of thespectrometer. The area covered by the field of view 40 may be largerthan the visible area of the sample illuminated by the optical beam 10,or the measurement area 50 defined by the visible portion of the opticalbeam 10. Alternatively, the field of view may be smaller than theoptical beam, for example. In many configurations, the field of view 40of the detector of the spectrometer module is larger than the areailluminated by the optical beam 10, and hence the measurement area 50 isdefined by the optical beam 10 rather than by the field of view 40 ofthe detector.

The visible portion of optical beam 10 may comprise one or morewavelengths corresponding to one or more colors visible to the user. Forexample, the visible portion of optical beam 10 may comprise one or morewavelengths corresponding to the colors red, orange, yellow, blue,green, indigo, violet, or a combination thereof. The visible portion ofoptical beam 10 reflected from the sample material S may comprise about0.1% to about 10%, about 1% to about 4%, or about 2% to about 3% ofoptical beam 10. The visible portion of optical beam 10 may compriselight operating with power in a range from about 0.1 mW to about 100 mW,about 1 mW to about 75 mW, about 1 mW to about 50 mW, about 5 mW toabout 40 mW, about 5 mW to about 30 mW, about 5 mW to about 20 mW, orabout 10 mW to about 15 mW. The visible portion of optical beam 10incident on the sample may have an intensity in a range from about 0.1mW to about 100 mW, about 1 mW to about 75 mW, about 1 mW to about 50mW, about 5 mW to about 40 mW, about 5 mW to about 30 mW, about 5 mW toabout 20 mW, or about 10 mW to about 15 mW. The visible portion ofoptical beam 10 incident on the sample may have an intensity or totallight output in a range from about 0.001 lumens to about 10 lumens,about 0.001 lumens to about 5 lumens, about 0.005 lumens to about 10lumens, about 0.01 lumens to about 10 lumens, about 0.005 lumens toabout 5 lumens, about 0.05 lumens to about 5 lumens, about 0.1 lumens toabout 5 lumens, about 0.2 lumens to about 1 lumens, or about 0.5 lumensto about 5 lumens.

The optical beam 10 incident on the sample S may have an area of about0.5 to about 2 cm², or about 1 cm². Accordingly, the optical beam 10incident on the sample S may have an irradiance within a range fromabout 0.1 mW/cm² to about 100 mW/cm², about 1 mW/cm² to about 75 mW/cm²,about 1 mW/cm² to about 50 mW/cm², about 5 mW/cm² to about 40 mW/cm²,about 5 mW/cm² to about 30 mW/cm², about 5 mW/cm² to about 20 mW/cm², orabout 10 mW/cm² to about 15 mW/cm². The optical beam 10 incident on thesample S may have an illuminance (E_(v) within a range from about 20 lux(lumens/m²) to about 100,000 lux, about 200 lux to about 75,000 lux,about 400 lux to about 50,000 lux, about 2,000 lux to about 25,000 lux,about 2,000 lux to about 15,000 lux, about 4,000 lux to about 15,000lux, or about 4,000 lux to about 6,000 lux.

The light output of the visible portion of optical beam 10 may varydepending on the type of light source. In some cases, the visible lightoutput of optical beam 10 may vary due to the different luminousefficacies of different types of light source. For example, bluelight-emitting diode (LED) may have an efficacy of about 40 lumens/W, ared LED may have an efficacy of about 70 lumens/W, and a green LED mayhave an efficacy of about 90 lumens/W. Accordingly, the visible lightoutput of optical beam 10 may vary depending on the color or wavelengthrange of the light source.

The light output of the visible portion of optical beam 10 may also varydue to the nature of interactions between the different components of alight source. For example, the light source may comprise a light sourcecombined with an optical element configured to shift the wavelength ofthe light produced by the first light source, as described in furtherdetail herein. In this embodiment, the visible light output of thevisible portion of optical beam 10 may vary depending on the amount ofthe light produced by the light source that is configured to passthrough the optical element without being absorbed orwavelength-shifted, as described in further detail herein.

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical beam 10 may comprise a visible aimingbeam 20. The aiming beam 20 may comprise one or more wavelengthscorresponding to one or more colors visible to the user, such as red,orange, yellow, blue, green, indigo, or violet. Alternatively or incombination, the optical beam 10 may comprise a measurement beam 30,configured to measure the spectra of the sample material. Themeasurement beam 30 may be visible, such that the measurement beam 30comprises and functions as a visible aiming beam. The optical beam 10may comprise a visible measurement beam 30 that comprises a visibleaiming beam. The measurement beam 30 may comprise light in the visiblespectrum, non-visible spectrum, or a combination thereof. The aimingbeam 20 and the measurement beam 30 may be produced by the same lightsource or by different light sources within the illumination module 140,and can be arranged to illuminate the sample material S within the fieldof view 40 of the detector or sensor of the spectrometer 102. Thevisible aiming beam 20 and the optical beam 30 may be partially orcompletely overlapping, aligned, and/or coaxial.

The visible aiming beam 20 may comprise light in the visible spectrum,for example in a range from about 390 nm to about 800 nm, which the usercan see reflected on a portion of the sample material S. The aiming beam20 can provide basic visual verification that the spectrometer 102 isoperational, and can provide visual indication to the user that ameasurement is in progress. The aiming beam 20 can help the uservisualize the area of the sample material being measured, and therebyprovide guidance the user in adjusting the position and/or angle of thespectrometer 102 to position the measurement area 50 over the desiredarea of the sample material S. The aiming beam 20 may be configured withcircuitry to be emitted throughout the duration of a measurement, andautomatically turn off when the measurement of the sample material S iscomplete; in this case, the aiming beam 20 can also provide visualindication to the user of how long the user should hold the spectrometer102 pointed at the sample material S.

The visible aiming beam 20 and the measurement beam 30 may be producedby the same light source, wherein the visible aiming beam 20 comprises aportion of the measurement beam 30. Alternatively, the aiming beam 20may be produced by a first light source, and the measurement beam 30 maybe produced by a second light source. For example, the measurement beam30 may comprise an infrared beam and the aiming beam 20 may comprise avisible light beam.

The measurement beam 30 may be configured to illuminate the measurementarea 50 of the sample S, and the aiming beam 20 may be configured toilluminate an area of the sample overlapping with the measurement area,thereby displaying the measurement area to the user. The visible areailluminated by the visible aiming beam 20 may comprise from about 50% toabout 150% or about 75% to about 125% of the measurement area, or atleast about 90%, at least about 95%, or at least about 99% of themeasurement area.

One or more optics of the illumination module, such as a lens or aparabolic reflector, may be arranged to receive the aiming beam 20 andthe measurement beam 30 and direct the aiming beam and measurement beamtoward the sample material S, with the aiming beam and measurement beamoverlapping on the sample. The aiming beam 20 may be arranged to bedirected along an aiming beam axis 25, while the measurement beam 30 maybe arranged to be directed along a measurement beam axis 35. The aimingbeam axis 25 may be co-axial with measurement beam axis 35.

The sensor or detector of the spectrometer module 160 may comprise oneor more filters configured to transmit the measurement beam 30 butinhibit transmission of the aiming beam 20. In many configurations, thespectrometer module comprises one filter configured to inhibittransmission of visible light, thereby inhibiting transmission ofportions of the aiming beam 20 and measurement beam 30 reflected fromthe sample that comprise visible light. In some configurations, thespectrometer module 160 may comprise a plurality of optical filtersconfigured to inhibit transmission of a portion of the aiming beam 20reflected the sample material S, and to transmit a portion of themeasurement beam 30 reflected from the sample. In configurations of thespectrometer module comprising a plurality of optical channels, thespectrometer module may comprise a plurality of filters wherein eachoptical filter corresponds to an optical channel. Each filter may beconfigured to inhibit transmission of light within a specific rangeand/or within a specific angle of incidence, wherein the filteredspecific range or specific angle of incidence may be specific to thecorresponding channel. In some configurations, each optical channel ofthe spectrometer module may comprise a field of view. The field of view40 of the spectrometer module may comprise a plurality of overlappingfields of view of a plurality of optical channels. The aiming beam andthe measurement beam may overlap with the plurality of overlappingfields of view on the sample S. In many configurations, a diffuser maybe disposed between the plurality of optical filters and the incidentlight from the sample, in which each optical filter corresponds to anoptical channel. In such configurations, the plurality of opticalchannels may comprise similar fields of view through the diffuser, witheach field of view at least partially overlapping with the fields ofview of other optical channels. With the diffuser, the spectrometer maycomprise a wide field of view, for example ±90°.

Optionally, the visible aiming beam 20 may be produced by a light sourceseparate from the illumination module 140. In this case, the separatelight source may be configured to produce the aiming beam such that theaiming beam illuminates a portion of the sample material that overlapswith the measurement area 50 of the sample.

The compact size of the spectrometer 102 can provide a hand held devicethat can be directed (e.g., pointed) at a material to rapidly obtaininformation about the material. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, thespectrometer 102 may have a size and weight such that the spectrometercan be held by a user with only one hand H. The spectrometer can have asize and weight such that the spectrometer can be portable. Thespectrometer can have a weight of about 1 gram (g), 5 g, 10 g, 15 g, 20g, 25 g, 30 g, 35 g, 40 g, 45 g, 50 g, 55 g, 60 g, 65 g, 70 g, 80 g. 85g, 90 g, 95 g, 100 g, 110 g, 120 g, 130 g, 140 g, 150 g, 160 g, 170 g,180 g, 190 g, or 200 g. The spectrometer can have a weight less than 1g. The spectrometer can have a weight greater than 200 g. Thespectrometer can have a weight that is between any of the two valuesgiven above. For example, the spectrometer can have a weight within arange from about 1 g to about 200 g, about 1 g to about 100 g, about 5 gto about 50 g, about 5 g to about 40 g, about 10 g to about 40 g, about10 g to about 30 g, or about 20 g to about 30 g.

The spectrometer can have a total volume of at most about 200 cm³, 150cm³, 100 cm³, 95 cm³, 90 cm³, 85 cm³, 80 cm³, 75 cm³, 70 cm³, 65 cm³, 60cm³, 55 cm³, 50 cm³, 45 cm, 40 cm³, 35 cm³, 30 cm³, 25 cm³, 20 cm³, 15cm³, 10 cm³, 5 cm³, or 1 cm³. The spectrometer can have a volume lessthan 1 cm³. The spectrometer can have a volume greater than 100 cm³. Thespectrometer can have a volume that is between any of the two valuesgiven above. For example, the spectrometer may have a volume within arange from about 1 cm³ to about 200 cm³, about 40 cm³ to about 200 cm³,about 60 cm³ to about 150 cm³, about 80 cm³ to about 120 cm³, about 80cm³ to about 100 cm³, or about 90 cm³.

The spectrometer shape can comprise a rectangular prism, cylinder, orother three-dimensional shape. The spectrometer can have a length of atmost about 500 mm, 400 mm, 300 mm, 200 mm, 250 mm, 100 mm, 95 mm, 90 mm,85 mm, 80 mm, 75 mm, 70 mm, 65 mm, 60 mm, 55 mm, 50 mm, 45 mm, 40 mm, 35mm, 30 mm, 25 mm, 20 mm, 15 mm, 10 mm, or 5 mm. The spectrometer canhave a length less than 5 mm. The spectrometer can have a length greaterthan 500 mm. The spectrometer can have a length that is between any ofthe two values given above. For example, the spectrometer have a lengthwithin a range from about 10 mm to about 100 mm, about 25 mm to about 75mm, or about 50 mm to about 70 mm. The spectrometer can have a width ofat most about 500 mm, 400 mm, 300 mm, 200 mm, 250 mm, 100 mm, 95 mm, 90mm, 85 mm, 80 mm, 75 mm, 70 mm, 65 mm, 60 mm, 55 mm, 50 mm, 45 mm, 40mm, 35 mm, 30 mm, 25 mm, 20 mm, 15 mm, 10 mm, or 5 mm. The spectrometercan have a width less than 5 mm. The spectrometer can have a widthgreater than 500 mm. The spectrometer can have a width that is betweenany of the two values given above. For example, the spectrometer mayhave a width within a range from about 10 mm to about 75 mm, about 20 mmto about 60 mm, or about 30 mm to about 50 mm. The spectrometer can havea height of at most about 500 mm, 400 mm, 300 mm, 200 mm, 250 mm, 100mm, 95 mm, 90 mm, 85 mm, 80 mm, 75 mm, 70 mm, 65 mm, 60 mm, 55 mm, 50mm, 45 mm, 40 mm, 35 mm, 30 mm, 25 mm, 20 mm, 15 mm, 10 mm, or 5 mm. Thespectrometer can have a height less than 5 mm. The spectrometer can havea height greater than 500 mm. The spectrometer can have a height that isbetween any of the two values given above. For example, the spectrometermay have a height within a range from about 1 mm to about 50 mm, about 5mm to about 40 mm, or about 10 mm to about 20 mm. The spectrometer may,for example, have dimensions within a range from about 0.1 cm×0.1 cm×2cm to about 5 cm×5 cm×10 cm. In the case of a cylindrical spectrometerthe spectrometer can have a radius of at most about 500 mm, 400 mm, 300mm, 200 mm, 250 mm, 100 mm, 95 mm, 90 mm, 85 mm, 80 mm, 75 mm, 70 mm, 65mm, 60 mm, 55 mm, 50 mm, 45 mm, 40 mm, 35 mm, 30 mm, 25 mm, 20 mm, 15mm, 10 mm, or 5 mm. The spectrometer can have a radius less than 5 mm.The spectrometer can have a radius greater than 500 mm. The spectrometercan have a radius that is between any of the two values given above.

One or more of the components of the spectrometer can be powered by abattery. The battery can be on-board the spectrometer. The battery canhave a weight of at most about 50 g, 45 g, 40 g, 35 g, 30 g, 25 g, 20 g,15 g, 10 g, 5 g, 1 g, or 0.1 g. The battery can have a weight less than0.1 g. The battery can have a weight greater than 50 g. The battery canhave a weight that is between any of the two values given above. Forexample, the batter may have a weight that is within a range from about2 g to about 6 g, about 3 g to about 5 g, or about 4 g.

The compact spectrometer 102 may have an optical resolution of less than10 nm, less than 5 nm, less than 4 nm, less than 3 nm, less than 2 nm,less than 1 nm, less than 0.5 nm, or less than 0.1 nm. The spectrometercan have an optical resolution that is between any of the two valuesgiven above. For example, the spectrometer may have an opticalresolution that is within a range from about 0.1 nm to about 100 nm,about 1 nm to about 50 nm, about 1 nm to about 10 nm, or about 2 nm toabout 5 nm. The spectrometer may have an optical resolution ofapproximately 5 nm, which is equivalent to approximately 100 cm⁻¹ at awavelength of about 700 nm and equivalent to approximately 40 cm⁻¹ at awavelength of about 1100 nm. The spectrometer may have an opticalresolution that is between 100 cm⁻¹ and 40 cm⁻¹. The spectrometer canhave a temporal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of about 1000 for a singlesensor reading (without averaging, at maximum spectral resolution) for awavelength of about 1000 nm, or an SNR of about 2500 for a wavelength ofabout 850 nm. The compact spectrometer, when configured to performalgorithmic processing or correction of measured spectral data, may beable to detect changes in normalized signals in the order of about1×10⁻³ to about 1×10⁻⁴, or about 5×10⁻⁴. The light source of theillumination module may be configured to have a stabilization time ofless than 1 min, less than 1 s, less than 1 ms, or about 0 s.

Spectrometer Using Secondary Emission Illumination with Filter-BasedOptics

Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which illustrates non-limitingconfigurations of the compact spectrometer system 100 herein disclosed.The system comprises a spectrometer 102, which comprises various modulessuch as a spectrometer module 160. As illustrated, the spectrometermodule 160 may comprise a diffuser 164, a filter matrix 170, a lensarray 174 and a detector 190.

The spectrometer system may comprise a plurality of optical filters offilter matrix 170. The optical filter can be of any type known in theart. Non-limiting examples of suitable optical filters includeFabry-Perot (FP) resonators, cascaded FP resonators, and interferencefilters. For example, a narrow bandpass filter (≤10 nm) with a wideblocking range outside of the transmission band (at least 200 nm) can beused. The center wavelength (CWL) of the filter can vary with theincident angle of the light impinging upon it.

The central wavelength of the central band can vary by 10 nm or more,such that the effective range of wavelengths passed with the filter isgreater than the bandwidth of the filter. In many instances, the centralwavelength varies by an amount greater than the bandwidth of the filter.For example, the bandpass filter can have a bandwidth of no more than 10nm and the wavelength of the central band can vary by more than 10 nmacross the field of view of the sensor.

The spectrometer system may comprise a filter matrix. The filter matrixcan comprise one or more filters, for example a plurality of filters.The use of a single filter can limit the spectral range available to thespectrometer. A filter can be an element that only permits transmissionof a light signal with a predetermined incident angle, polarization,wavelength, and/or other property. For example, if the angle ofincidence of light is larger than 30°, the system may not produce asignal of sufficient intensity due to lens aberrations and the decreasein the efficiency of the detector at large angles. For an angular rangeof 30° and an optical filter center wavelength (CWL) of ˜850 nm, thespectral range available to the spectrometer can be about 35 nm, forexample. As this range can be insufficient for some spectroscopy basedapplications, configurations with larger spectral ranges may comprise anoptical filter matrix composed of a plurality of sub-filters. Eachsub-filter can have a different CWL and thus covers a different part ofthe optical spectrum. The sub-filters can be configured in one or moreof many ways and be tiled in two dimensions, for example.

Depending on the number of sub-filters, the wavelength range accessibleto the spectrometer can reach hundreds of nanometers. In configurationscomprising a plurality of sub-filters, the approximate Fouriertransforms formed at the image plane (i.e. one per sub-filter) overlap,and the signal obtained at any particular pixel of the detector canresult from a mixture of the different Fourier transforms.

The filter matrixes may be arranged in a specific order to inhibit crosstalk on the detector of light emerging from different filters and tominimize the effect of stray light. For example, if the matrix iscomposed of 3×4 filters then there are 2 filters located at the interiorof the matrix and 10 filters at the periphery of the matrix. The 2filters at the interior can be selected to be those at the edges of thewavelength range. Without being bound by a particular theory, theselected inner filters may experience the most spatial cross-talk but bethe least sensitive to cross-talk spectrally.

The spectrometer module may comprise a lens array 174. The lens arraycan comprise a plurality of lenses. The number of lenses in theplurality of lenses can be determined such that each filter of thefilter array corresponds to a lens of the lens array. Alternatively orin combination, the number of lenses can be determined such that eachchannel through the support array corresponds to a lens of the lensarray. Alternatively or in combination, the number of lenses can beselected such that each region of the plurality of regions of the imagesensor corresponds to an optical channel and corresponding lens of thelens array and filter of the filter array.

The spectrometer system may comprise a detector 190, which may comprisean array of sensors. In many cases, the detector is capable of detectinglight in the wavelength range of interest. The compact spectrometersystem disclosed herein can be used from the UV to the IR, depending onthe nature of the spectrum being obtained and the particular spectralproperties of the sample being tested. The detector can be sensitive toone or more of ultraviolet wavelengths of light, visible wavelengths oflight, or infrared wavelengths of light. In some cases, a detector thatis capable of measuring intensity as a function of position (e.g. anarray detector or a two-dimensional image sensor) is used.

In some instances the spectrometer does not comprise a cylindrical beamvolume hologram (CVBH).

The detector can be located in a predetermined plane. The predeterminedplane can be the focal plane of the lens array. Light of differentwavelengths (X1, X2, X3, X4, etc.) can arrive at the detector as aseries of substantially concentric circles of different radiiproportional to the wavelength. The relationship between the wavelengthand the radius of the corresponding circle may not be linear.

The detector may receive non-continuous spectra, for example spectrathat can be unlike a dispersive element would create. The non-continuousspectra can be missing parts of the spectrum. The non-continuousspectrum can have the wavelengths of the spectra at least in partspatially out of order, for example. In some cases, first shortwavelengths contact the detector near longer wavelengths, and secondshort wavelengths contact the detector at distances further away fromthe first short wavelengths than the longer wavelengths.

The detector may comprise a plurality of detector elements, such aspixels for example. Each detector element may be configured so as toreceive signals of a broad spectral range. The spectral range receivedon a first and second pluralities of detector elements may extend atleast from about 10 nm to about 400 nm. In many instances, spectralrange received on the first and second pluralities of detector elementsmay extend at least from about 10 nm to about 700 nm. In many instances,spectral range received on the first and second pluralities of detectorelements may extend at least from about 10 nm to about 1600 nm. In manyinstances, spectral range received on the first and second pluralitiesof detector elements may extend at least from about 400 nm to about 1600nm. In many instances, spectral range received on the first and secondpluralities of detector elements may extend at least from about 700 nmto about 1600 nm.

The spectrometer system may comprise a diffuser. In configurations inwhich the light emanating from the sample is not sufficiently diffuse, adiffuser can be placed in front of other elements of the spectrometer.The diffuser can be placed in a light path between a light emission anda detector and/or filter. Collimated (or partially collimated light) canimpinge on the diffuser, which then produces diffuse light which thenimpinges on other aspects of the spectrometer, e.g. an optical filter.

In many cases, the lens array, the filter matrix, and the detector arenot centered on a common optical axis. In many cases, the lens array,the filter matrix, and the detector are aligned on a common opticalaxis.

The principle of operation of compact spectrometer may comprise one ormore of the following attributes. Light impinges upon the diffuser andat least a fraction of the light is transmitted through the diffuser.The light next impinges upon the filter matrix at a wide range ofpropagation angles and the spectrum of light passing through thesub-filters is angularly encoded. The angularly encoded light thenpasses through the lens array (e.g. Fourier transform focusing elements)which performs (approximately) a spatial Fourier transform of theangle-encoded light, transforming it into a spatially-encoded spectrum.Finally the light reaches the detector. The location of the detectorelement relative to the optical axis of a lens of the array correspondsto the wavelength of light, and the wavelength of light at a pixellocation can be determined based on the location of the pixel relativeto the optical axis of the lens of the array. The intensity of lightrecorded by the detector element such as a pixel as a function ofposition (e.g. pixel number or coordinate reference location) on thesensor corresponds to the resolved wavelengths of the light for thatposition.

In some cases, an additional filter is placed in front of the compactspectrometer system in order to block light outside of the spectralrange of interest (i.e. to prevent unwanted light from reaching thedetector).

In configurations in which the spectral range covered by the opticalfilters is insufficient, additional sub-filters with differing CWLs canbe used.

In some instances, shutters allow for the inclusion or exclusion oflight from part of the spectrometer 102. For example, shutters can beused to exclude particular sub-filters. Shutters may also be used toexclude individual lens.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of spectrometer head in accordance withconfigurations. In many cases, the spectrometer 102 comprises aspectrometer head 120. The spectrometer head comprises one or more of aspectrometer module 160, a temperature sensor module 130, and anillumination module 140. Each module, when present, can be covered witha module window. For example, the spectrometer module 160 can comprise aspectrometer window 162, the temperature sensor module 130 can comprisea sensor window 132, and the illumination module 140 can comprise anillumination window 142.

The illumination module and the spectrometer module may be configured tohave overlapping fields of view at the sample. The overlapping fields ofview can be provided in one or more of many ways. For example, theoptical axes of the illumination source, the temperature sensor and thematrix array can extend in a substantially parallel configuration.Alternatively, one or more of the optical axes can be oriented towardanother optical axis of another module.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic drawing of cross-section A of the spectrometerhead of FIG. 3, in accordance with configurations. In order to lessenthe noise and/or spectral shift produced from fluctuations intemperature, a spectrometer head 120 comprising a temperature sensormodule 130 can be used to measure and record the temperature during themeasurement. The temperature sensor element can measure the temperatureof the sample in response to infrared radiation emitted from the sample,and transmit the temperature measurement to a processor. Accurate and/orprecise temperature measurement can be used to standardize or modify thespectrum produced. For example, different spectra of a given sample canbe measured based on the temperature at which the spectrum was taken. Aspectrum can be stored with metadata relating to the temperature atwhich the spectrum was measure. The temperature sensor module 130 maycomprise a temperature sensor window 132. The temperature sensor windowcan seal the sensor module. The temperature sensor window 132 can bemade of material that is substantially non-transmissive to visible lightand transmits light in the infrared spectrum. The temperature sensorwindow 132 may comprise germanium, for example. The temperature sensorwindow can be about 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9 or 1.0 mmthick.

The temperature sensor can comprise a field of view (herein after “FoV”)limiter. In many instances, the temperature sensor has a field of vieworiented to overlap with a field of view of the detector and a field ofview of an illuminator. For example, the field of view can be limited byan aperture formed in a material supporting the window 132 oftemperature sensor module and the dimensions of the temperature sensor134. In some instances, the temperature sensor module has a limitedfield of view and comprises a heat conductive metal cage disposed on aflex printed circuit board (PCB) 136. The PCB 136 can be mounted on astiffener 138 in order to inhibit movement relative to the other moduleson the sensor head. The flexible circuit board may be backed bystiffener 138 comprising a metal. The temperature sensor 134 can be aremote temperature sensor. The temperature sensor can give a temperaturethat is accurate to within about 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.7, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2 or0.1 degree Celsius of the ambient temperature of the sample. Thetemperature sensor may measure the ambient temperature with precision to3, 2, 1, 0.5, or 0.1 degree Celsius.

The spectrometer head may comprise an illumination module 140. Theillumination module can illuminate a sample with light. In someinstances, the illumination module comprises an illumination window 142.The illumination window can seal the illumination module. Theillumination window can be substantially transmissive to the lightproduced in the illumination module. For example, the illuminationwindow can comprise glass. The illumination module can comprise a lightsource 148. The light source can comprise one or more light emittingdiodes (LED). For example, the light source may comprise a blue LED, redLED, green LED, infrared LED, or a combination thereof.

The light source 148 can be mounted on a mounting fixture 150. Themounting fixture may comprise a ceramic package. For example, the lightfixture can be a flip-chip LED die mounted on a ceramic package. Themounting fixture 150 can be attached to a flexible printed circuit board(PCB) 152 which can optionally be mounted on a stiffener 154 to reducemovement of the illumination module. The flex PCB of the illuminationmodule and the PCT of temperature sensor modules may comprise differentportions of the same flex PCB, which may also comprise portions ofspectrometer PCB.

The wavelength of the light produced by the light source 148 can beshifted by a plate 146. Plate 146 can be a wavelength shifting plate.Plate 146 may comprise phosphor embedded in glass. Alternatively or incombination, plate 146 can comprise a nano-crystal, a quantum dot, orcombinations thereof. The plate can absorb light from the light sourceand release light having a frequency lower than the frequency of theabsorbed light. In some cases, a light source produces visible light,and plate 146 absorbs the light and emits near infrared light. The lightsource may be in close proximity to or directly touching the plate 146.The light source and associated packaging may be separated from theplate by a gap to limit heat transfer. For example, the gap between thelight source and the plate can be at least 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6,0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0,9.0, or 10.0 mm. Alternatively, the light source packaging may touch theplate 146 in order to conduct heat from the plate such that the lightsource packaging comprises a heat sink.

The illumination module can further comprise a light concentrator suchas a parabolic concentrator 144 or a condenser lens in order toconcentrate the light. The parabolic concentrator 144 may be areflector. The parabolic concentrator 144 may comprise stainless steelor gold-plated stainless steel. The concentrator can concentrate lightto a cone. For example, the light can be concentrated to a cone with afield of view of about 30-45, 25-50, or 20-55 degrees.

The illumination module may be configured to transmit light and thespectrometer module may be configured to receive light along opticalpaths extending substantially perpendicular to an entrance face of thespectrometer head. The modules can be configured such that light can betransmitted from one module to an object (such as a sample S) andreflected or scattered to another module which receives the light.

The optical axes of the illumination module and the spectrometer modulemay be configured to be non-parallel such that the optical axisrepresenting the spectrometer module is at an offset angle to theoptical axis of the illumination module. This non-parallel configurationcan be provided in one or more of many ways. For example, one or morecomponents can be supported on a common support and offset in relationto an optic such as a lens in order to orient one or more optical axestoward each other. Alternatively or in combination, a module can beangularly inclined with respect to another module. The optical axis ofeach module may be aligned at an offset angle of greater than 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50degrees. The illumination module and the spectrometer module may beconfigured to be aligned at an offset angle of less than 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 degrees.The illumination module and the spectrometer module can be configured tobe aligned at an offset angle between than 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40 or41-50 degrees. The offset angle of the modules may be set firmly and notadjustable, or the offset angle may adjustable. The offset angle of themodules may be automatically selected based on the distance of thespectrometer head from the sample. Two modules may have parallel opticalaxes. Two or more modules may have offset optical axes. In someinstances, the modules can have optical axes offset such that theyconverge on a sample. The modules can have optical axes offset such thatthey converge at a set distance. For example, the modules can haveoptical axes offset such that they converge at a distance of about 10,20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, or500 mm away.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic drawing of cross-section B of the spectrometerhead of FIGS. 3 and 4, in accordance with configurations. Thespectrometer head 120 may comprise spectrometer module 160. Thespectrometer module can be sealed by a spectrometer window 162. Thespectrometer window 162 may be selectively transmissive to light withrespect to the wavelength in order to analyze the spectral sample. Forexample, spectrometer window 162 can be an IR-pass filter. In someinstances, the window 162 can be glass. The spectrometer module cancomprise one or more diffusers. For example, the spectrometer module cancomprise a first diffuser 164 disposed below the spectrometer window162. The first diffuser 164 can distribute the incoming light. Forexample, the first diffuser can be a cosine diffuser. Optionally, thespectrometer module may comprise a light filter 188. Light filter 188can be a thick IR-pass filter. For example, filter 188 can absorb lightbelow a threshold wavelength. Filter 188 can absorb light with awavelength below about 1000, 950, 900, 850, 800, 750, 700, 650, or 600nm. The spectrometer module may further comprise a second diffuser 166.The second diffuser can generate Lambertian light distribution at theinput of the filter matrix 170. The filter assembly can be sealed by aglass plate 168. Alternatively or in combination, the filter assemblycan be further supported by a filter frame 182, which can attach thefilter assembly to the spectrometer housing 180. The spectrometerhousing 180 can hold the spectrometer window 162 in place and furtherprovide mechanical stability to the module.

The first filter and the second filter can be arranged in one or more ofmany ways to provide a substantially uniform light distribution to thefilters. The substantially uniform light distribution can be uniformwith respect to an average energy to within about 25%, for example towithin about 10%, for example. The first diffuser may distribute theincident light energy spatially on the second diffuser with asubstantially uniform energy distribution profile. The first diffusermay make the light substantially homogenous with respect to angulardistribution. The second diffuser can further diffuse the light energyof the substantially uniform energy distribution profile to asubstantially uniform angular distribution profile, such that the lighttransmitted to each filter can be substantially homogenous both withrespect to the spatial distribution profile and the angular distributionprofile of the light energy incident on each filter. For example, theangular distribution profile of light energy onto each filter can beuniform to within about +/−25%, for example substantially uniform towithin about +/−10%.

The spectrometer module comprises a filter matrix 170. The filter matrixcan comprise one or more filters. In many instances, the filter matrixcomprises a plurality of filters.

In some instances, each filter of the filter matrix 170 is configured totransmit a range of wavelengths distributed about a central wavelength.The range of wavelengths can be defined as a full width half maximum(hereinafter “FWHM”) of the distribution of transmitted wavelengths fora light beam transmitted substantially normal to the surface of thefilter as will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. Awavelength range can be defined by a central wavelength and by aspectral width. The central wavelength can be the mean wavelength oflight transmitted through the filter, and the band spectral width of afilter can be the difference between the maximum and the minimumwavelength of light transmitted through the filter. Each filter of theplurality of filters may be configured to transmit a range ofwavelengths different from other filters of the plurality. The range ofwavelengths overlaps with ranges of said other filters of the pluralityand wherein said each filter comprises a central wavelength differentfrom said other filters of the plurality.

The filter array comprises a substrate having a thickness and a firstside and a second side, the first side oriented toward the diffuser, thesecond side oriented toward the lens array. In some instances, eachfilter of the filter array comprises a substrate having a thickness anda first side and a second side, the first side oriented toward thediffuser, the second side oriented toward the lens array. The filterarray can comprise one or more coatings on the first side, on the secondside, or a combination thereof. Each filter of the filter array cancomprise one or more coatings on the first side, on the second side, ora combination thereof. In some instances, each filter of the filterarray comprises one or more coatings on the second side, oriented towardthe lens array. In some instances, each filter of the filter arraycomprises one or more coatings on the second side, oriented toward thelens array and on the first side, oriented toward the diffuser. The oneor more coatings on the second side can be an optical filter. Forexample, the one or more coatings can permit a wavelength range toselectively pass through the filter. Alternatively or in combination,the one or more coatings can be used to inhibit cross-talk among lensesof the array. In some instances, the plurality of coatings on the secondside comprises a plurality of interference filters, said each of theplurality of interference filters on the second side configured totransmit a central wavelength of light to one lens of the plurality oflenses. In some instances, the filter array comprises one or morecoatings on the first side of the filter array. The one or more coatingson the first side of the array can comprise a coating to balancemechanical stress. In some instances, the one or more coatings on thefirst side of the filter array comprises an optical filter. For example,the optical filter on the first side of the filter array can comprise anIR pass filter to selectively pass infrared light. In many instances,the first side does not comprise a bandpass interference filter coating.In some instances, the first does not comprise a coating.

In many instances, the array of filters comprises a plurality ofbandpass interference filters on the second side of the array. Theplacement of the fine frequency resolving filters on the second sideoriented toward the lens array and apertures can inhibit cross-talkamong the filters and related noise among the filters. In manyinstances, the array of filters comprises a plurality of bandpassinterference filters on the second side of the array, and does notcomprise a bandpass interference filter on the first side of the array.

In many instances, each filter defines an optical channel of thespectrometer. The optical channel can extend from the filter through anaperture and a lens of the array to a region of the sensor array. Theplurality of parallel optical channels can provide increased resolutionwith decreased optical path length.

The spectrometer module can comprise an aperture array 172. The aperturearray can prevent cross talk between the filters. The aperture arraycomprises a plurality of apertures formed in a non-opticallytransmissive material. In some instances, the plurality of apertures isdimensioned to define a clear lens aperture of each lens of the array,wherein the clear lens aperture of each lens is limited to one filter ofthe array. In some instances, the clear lens aperture of each lens islimited to one filter of the array.

In many instances the spectrometer module comprises a lens array 174.The lens array can comprise a plurality of lenses. The number of lensescan be determined such that each filter of the filter array correspondsto a lens of the lens array. Alternatively or in combination, the numberof lenses can be determined such that each channel through the supportarray corresponds to a lens of the lens array. Alternatively or incombination, the number of lenses can be selected such that each regionof the plurality of regions of the image sensor corresponds to anoptical channel and corresponding lens of the lens array and filter ofthe filter array.

In many instances, each lens of the lens array comprises one or moreaspheric surfaces, such that each lens of the lens array comprises anaspherical lens. In many instances, each lens of the lens arraycomprises two aspheric surfaces. Alternatively or in combination, one ormore individual lens of the lens array can have two curved opticalsurfaces wherein both optical surfaces are substantially convex.Alternatively or in combination, the lenses of the lens array maycomprise one or more diffractive optical surfaces.

In many instances, the spectrometer module comprises a support array176. The support array 176 comprises a plurality of channels 177 definedwith a plurality of support structures 179 such as interconnectingannuli. The plurality of channels 177 may define optical channels of thespectrometer. The support structures 179 can comprises stiffness to addrigidity to the support array 176. The support array may comprise astopper to limit movement and fix the position the lens array inrelation to the sensor array. The support array 176 can be configured tosupport the lens array 174 and fix the distance from the lens array tothe sensor array in order to fix the distance between the lens array andthe sensor array at the focal length of the lenses of the lens array. Inmany instances, the lenses of the array comprise substantially the samefocal length such that the lens array and the sensor array are arrangedin a substantially parallel configuration.

The support array 176 can extend between the lens array 174 and thestopper mounting 178. The support array 176 can serve one or morepurposes, such as 1) providing the correct separation distance betweeneach lens of lens array 170 and each region of the plurality of regionsof the image sensor 190, and/or 2) preventing stray light from enteringor exiting each channel, for example. In some instances, the height ofeach support in support array 176 is calibrated to the focal length ofthe lens within lens array 174 that it supports. In some instances, thesupport array 176 is constructed from a material that does not permitlight to pass such as substantially opaque plastic. In some instances,support array 176 is black, or comprises a black coating to furtherreduce cross talk between channels. The spectrometer module can furthercomprise a stopper mounting 178 to support the support array. In manyinstances, the support array comprises an absorbing and/or diffusivematerial to reduce stray light, for example.

In many instances, the support array 176 comprises a plurality ofchannels having the optical channels of the filters and lenses extendingtherethrough. In some instances, the support array comprise a singlepiece of material extending from the lens array to the detector (i.e.CCD or CMOS array).

The lens array can be directly attached to the aperture array 172, orcan be separated by an air gap of at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 30, 40, or 50 micrometers. The lens array can bedirectly on top of the support array 178. Alternatively or incombination, the lens array can be positioned such that each lens issubstantially aligned with a single support stopper or a single opticalisolator in order to isolate the optical channels and inhibitcross-talk. In some instances, the lens array is positioned to be at adistance approximately equal to the focal length of the lens away fromthe image sensor, such that light coming from each lens is substantiallyfocused on the image sensor.

In some instances, the spectrometer module comprises an image sensor190. The image sensor can be a light detector. For example, the imagesensor can be a CCD or 2D CMOS or other sensor, for example. Thedetector can comprise a plurality of regions, each region of saidplurality of regions comprising multiple sensors. For example, adetector can be made up of multiple regions, wherein each region is aset of pixels of a 2D CMOS. The detector, or image sensor 190, can bepositioned such that each region of the plurality of regions is directlybeneath a different channel of support array 176. In many instances, anisolated light path is established from a single of filter of filterarray 170 to a single aperture of aperture array 172 to a single lens oflens array 174 to a single stopper channel of support array 176 to asingle region of the plurality of regions of image sensor 190.Similarly, a parallel light path can be established for each filter ofthe filter array 170, such that there are an equal number of parallel(non-intersecting) light paths as there are filters in filter array 170.

The image sensor 190 can be mounted on a flexible printed circuit board(PCB) 184. The PCB 184 can be attached to a stiffener 186. In someinstances, the stiffener comprises a metal stiffener to prevent motionof the spectrometer module relative to the spectrometer head 120.

FIG. 8 shows an isometric view of a spectrometer module 160 inaccordance with configurations. The spectrometer module 160 comprisesmany components as described herein. In many instances, the supportarray 176 can be positioned on a package on top of the sensor. In manyinstances, the support array can be positioned over the top of the baredie of the sensor array such that an air gap is present. The air gap canbe less than 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 micrometer(s).

FIG. 9 shows the lens array 174 within the spectrometer module 160, inaccordance with configurations. This isometric view shows the apertures194 formed in a non-transmissive material of the aperture array 172 inaccordance with configurations. In many instances, each channel of thesupport array 176 is aligned with a filter of the filter array 170, alens of the lens array 174, and an aperture 194 of the aperture array inorder to form a plurality of light paths with inhibited cross talk.

The glass-embedded phosphor of plate 146 may be a near-infrared (NIR)phosphor, capable of emitting infrared or NIR radiation in the rangefrom about 700 nm to about 1100 nm.

The light filter 188 may be configured to block at least a portion ofvisible radiation included in the incident light.

In some cases, the first wavelength range of the first filter and thesecond wavelength range of the second filter fall within a wavelengthrange of about 400 nm to about 1100 nm. In some instances, the secondwavelength range overlaps the first wavelength range by at least 2% ofthe second wavelength range. In some instances, the second wavelengthrange overlaps the first wavelength range by an amount of about 1% toabout 5% of the second wavelength range. The overlap in the range ofwavelengths of the filters may be configured to provide algorithmiccorrection of the gains across different channels, for example acrossthe outputs of a first filter element and a second filter element.

The coating of the filter array and/or the support array may comprise ablack coating configured to absorb most of the light that hits thecoated surface. For example, the coating may comprise a coatingcommercially available from Anoplate (as described onhttp://www.anoplate.com/capabilities/anoblack_ni.html), Acktar (asdescribed on the world wide web at the Acktar web site, www.acktar.com),or Avian Technologies (as described onhttp://www.aviantechnologies.com/products/coatings/diffuse_black.php),or other comparable coatings.

The stopper and the image sensor may be configured to have matchingcoefficients of thermal expansion (CTE). For example, the stopper andthe image sensor may be configured to have a matching CTE of about 710⁻⁶ K⁻¹. In order to match the CTE between the stopper and the imagesensor where the stopper and image sensor have different CTEs, a liquidcrystal polymer, such as Vectra E130, may be applied between the stopperand the image sensor.

The lens may be configured to introduce some distortion in the output ofthe lens, in order to improve performance in analyzing the obtainedspectral data. The filters described herein may typically allowtransmission of a specific wavelength for a specific angle ofpropagation of the incident light beam. As the light transmitted throughthe filters pass through the lens, the output of the lens may generateconcentric rings on the sensor for different wavelengths of incidentlight. With typical spherical lens performance, as the angle ofincidence grows larger, the concentric ring for that wavelength becomesmuch thinner (for a typical light bandwidth of ˜5 nm). Such variance inthe thickness of the rings may cause reduced linearity and relatedperformance in analyzing the spectral data. To overcome thisnon-linearity, some distortion may be introduced into the lens, so as toreduce the thickness of the rings that correspond to incident lighthaving smaller angles of propagation, and increase the thickness of therings that correspond to incident light having larger angles ofpropagation, wherein non-linearity of ring size related to incidentangle is decreased. Lenses configured to produce such distortion in theoutput can produce a more even distribution of ring thicknesses alongthe supported range of angles of incidence, consequently improvingperformance in the analysis of the generated spectral data. Thedistortion can be provided with one or more aspheric lens profiles toincrease the depth of field (DoF) and increase the size of the pointspread function (PSF) as described herein.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic drawing of a cross-section B of an alternativeembodiment of the spectrometer head of FIG. 5. In some instances, thespectrometer module may be configured to purposefully induce cross-talkamong sensor elements. For example, the spectrometer module may comprisethe filter matrix and lens array as shown in FIG. 7, but omit one ormore structural features that isolate the optical channels, such as theaperture array 172 or the isolated channels 177 of the support array176. Without the isolated optical channels, light having a particularwavelength received by the first filter may result in a pattern ofnon-concentric rings on the detector. In addition, a first range ofwavelengths associated with a first filter may partially overlap asecond range of wavelengths associated with a second filter. Without theisolated optical channels, at least one feature in the pattern of lightoutput by a first filter may be associated with at least one feature inthe pattern of light output by a second filter. For example, when lightcomprising two different wavelengths, separated by at least five timesthe spectral resolution of the device, passes through the filter matrix,the light from at least two filters of the filter matrix may impinge onat least one common pixel of the detector. The spectrometer module mayfurther comprise at least one processing device configured to stitchtogether light output by multiple filters to generate or reconstruct aspectrum associated with the incident light. Inducing cross-talk amongsensor elements can have the advantage of increasing signal strength,and of reducing the structural complexity and thereby the cost of theoptics.

Referring again to FIG. 6, the illumination module 140 can be configuredto produce an optical beam 10, which may comprise a visible aiming beam20 and a measurement beam 30. The aiming beam 20 and measurement beam 30may be produced by the same light source 148, which may generate lightincluding visible light. As described herein, the illumination module140 may comprise a plate 146, such as a phosphor embedded glass plate.The plate may be configured to absorb a portion of the optical beam 10produced by the light source 148, such that the absorbed light generatesan electronic effect resulting in an emission of light with a wavelengthdifferent from the wavelength of the absorbed light. Alternatively or incombination, a portion of the optical beam 10 produced by light source148 may be configured to be transmitted through plate 146 without beingabsorbed or wavelength-shifted. The unabsorbed, transmitted light canform the visible aiming beam 20, which can help the user visualize ofthe measurement area of a sample. A portion of the optical beam 10 maybe wavelength-shifted by the plate 146 and can form the measurement beam30, which may comprise light outside the visible spectrum and/or lightin the visible spectrum, as described herein. For example, measurementbeam 30 may comprise near infrared light. Parabolic concentrator 144 maybe arranged to receive the aiming beam 20 and the measurement beam 30and direct the aiming beam and measurement beam toward a sample materialS. As described herein, the aiming beam 20 and measurement beam 30 maybe partially or completely overlapping, aligned, or coaxial. Forexample, the aiming beam 20 may be arranged to be directed along anaiming beam axis 25, while the measurement beam 30 may be arranged to bedirected along a measurement beam axis 35, and the aiming beam axis 25may be co-axial with measurement beam axis 35. The aiming beam andmeasurement beam may overlap on the sample.

The power or visible light output of the aiming beam 20 may varydepending on the amount of optical beam 10 that is configured to passthrough the plate 146 without being absorbed or wavelength-shifted.About 0.1% to about 10%, about 0.5% to about 5%, about 1% to about 4%,or about 2% to about 3% of optical beam 10 may be transmitted throughplate 146 without being wavelength-shifted. The transmission of theoptical beam 10 through plate 146 may be affected by the thickness ofthe plate 146. Further, the transmission of the optical beam 10 throughplate 146 may be affected by the type of light source 148. For example,different types of light sources can be absorbed by the plate 146 atdifferent efficiencies, consequently affecting the amount of light thatis transmitted through the plate 146 without being wavelength-shifted.For a light source 148 comprising a blue LED and a plate 146 comprisingphosphor-embedded glass, about 10 mW to about 15 mW (or about 0.4 toabout 0.6 lumens) of light may transmit through the plate 146 to formthe aiming beam 20. By comparison, light produced by a light sourcecomprising a red LED may not absorb as efficiently by aphosphor-embedded glass plate, and consequently more light, for exampleabout 15 mW to about 30 mW (or about 1 to about 2 lumens) of the light,may transmit through the plate to form the aiming beam 20.

The spectrometer module 160 may comprise one or more filters configuredto transmit the measurement beam 30 but inhibit transmission of theaiming beam 20. In many configurations, the spectrometer modulecomprises one filter, such as light filter 188, configured to inhibittransmission of visible light, thereby inhibiting transmission ofportions of the aiming beam 20 and measurement beam 30 reflected fromthe sample that comprise visible light. In some configurations, thespectrometer module may comprise a plurality of optical filtersconfigured to inhibit transmission of a portion of the aiming beam 20reflected the sample material S, and to transmit a portion of themeasurement beam 30 reflected from the sample. For example, theplurality of optical filters may comprise the optical filters of thefilter matrix 170, wherein each filter in the filter matrix 170corresponds to an optical channel of the plurality of channels 177. Eachfilter may be configured to inhibit transmission of light within aspecific range and/or within a specific angle of incidence, wherein thefiltered specific range or specific angle of incidence may be specificto the corresponding channel. In some configurations, each opticalchannel may comprise a field of view. The field of view of thespectrometer module 160 may hence comprise a plurality of overlappingfields of view of the plurality of optical channels 177. The aiming beam20 and the measurement beam 30 may overlap with the plurality ofoverlapping fields of view on the sample S.

Spectrometer Using Multiple Illumination Sources

FIG. 11 shows a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of thespectrometer head 120. The spectrometer head 120 comprises anillumination module 140, a spectrometer module 160, a control board 105,and a processor 106. The spectrometer 102 further comprises atemperature sensor module 130 as described herein, configured to measureand record the temperature of the sample in response to infraredradiation emitted from the sample. In addition to the temperature sensormodule 130, the spectrometer 102 may also comprise a separatetemperature sensor 203 for measuring the temperature of the light sourcein the illumination module 140.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic diagram of a cross-section of the spectrometerhead of FIG. 11 (the sample temperature sensor 130 and the light sourcetemperature sensor 203 are not shown). The spectrometer head comprisesan illumination module 140 and a spectrometer module 160.

The illumination module 140 comprises at least two light sources, suchas light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 210. The illumination module maycomprise at least about 10 LEDs. The illumination module 140 furthercomprises a radiation diffusion unit 213 configured to receive theradiation emitted from the array of LEDs 210, and provide as an outputillumination radiation for use in analyzing a sample material. Theradiation diffusion unit may comprise one or more of a first diffuser215, a second diffuser 220, and one lens 225 disposed between the firstand second diffusers. The radiation diffusion unit may further compriseadditional diffusers and lenses. The radiation diffusion unit maycomprise a housing 214 to support the first diffuser and the seconddiffuser with fixed distances from the light sources. The inner surfaceof the housing 214 may comprise a plurality of light absorbingstructures 216 to inhibit reflection of light from an inner surface ofthe housing. For example, the plurality of light absorbing structuresmay comprise one or more of a plurality of baffles or a plurality ofthreads, as shown in FIG. 12. A cover glass 230 may be provided tomechanically support and protect each diffuser. Alternatively or incombination with the LEDs, the at least two light sources may compriseone or more lasers.

The array of LEDs 210 may be configured to generate illumination lightcomposed of multiple wavelengths. Each LED may be configured to emitradiation within a specific wavelength range, wherein the wavelengthranges of the plurality of LEDs may be different. The LEDs may havedifferent specific power, peak wavelength and bandwidth, such that thearray of LEDs generates illumination that spans across the spectrum ofinterest. There can be between a few LEDs and a few tens of LEDs in asingle array.

In some instances, the LED array is placed on a printed circuit board(PCB) 152. In order to reduce the size, cost and complexity of the PCBand LED driving electronics and reduce the number of interconnect lines,the LEDs may preferably be arranged in rows and columns, as shown inFIG. 13. The LED array may comprise a packaged LED array 1300 as shown,comprising a 2-dimensional array of LEDs 210, wherein the array may beabout 14 mm in width 1305 and about 15 mm in length 1310, for example.The LED array may comprise a dice array 1315 as shown, which may beabout 2.8 mm in width 1320 and comprise about 46 LEDs covering aspectral range of about 375 nm to about 1550 nm, for example. All anodeson the same row may be connected together and all cathodes on the samecolumn may be connected together (or vice versa). For example, the LEDin the center of the array may be turned on when a transistor connectsthe driving voltage to the anodes' fourth row and another transistorconnects the cathodes' fourth column to a ground. None of the other LEDsis turned on at this state, as either its anodes are disconnected frompower or its cathodes are disconnected from the ground. Preferably, theLEDs are arranged according to voltage groups, to simplify the currentcontrol and to improve spectral homogeneity (LEDs of similar wavelengthsare placed close together). While bi-polar transistors are providedherein as examples, the circuit may also use other types of switches(e.g., field-effect transistors).

The LED currents can be regulated by various means as known to thoseskilled in the art. In some instances, Current Control Regulator (CCR)components may be used in series to each anode row and/or to eachcathode column of the array. In some instances, a current control loopmay be used instead of the CCR, providing more flexibility and feedbackon the actual electrode currents. Alternatively, the current may bedetermined by the applied anode voltages, though this method should beused with care as LEDs can vary significantly in their current tovoltage characteristics.

An optional voltage adjustment diode can be useful in reducing thedifference between the LED driving voltages of LEDs sharing the sameanode row, so that they can be driven directly from the voltage sourcewithout requiring a current control circuit. The optional voltageadjustment diode can also help to improve the stability and simplicityof the driving circuit. These voltage adjustment diodes may be selectedaccording to the LEDs' expected voltage drops across the row, inopposite tendency, so that the total voltage drop variation along ashared row is smaller.

Referring to FIG. 12, the radiation diffusion unit 213, positioned abovethe LED array, is configured to mix the illumination emitted by each ofthe LEDs at different spatial locations and with different angularcharacteristics, such that the spectrum of illumination of the samplewill be as uniform as possible across the measured area of the sample.What is meant by a uniform spectrum is that the relations of powers atdifferent wavelengths do not depend on the location on the sample.However, the absolute power can vary. This uniformity is highlypreferable in order to optimize the accuracy of the reflection spectrummeasurement.

The first diffuser 215, preferably mechanically supported and protectedby a cover glass 230, may be placed above the array of LEDs 210. Thediffuser may be configured to equalize the beam patterns of thedifferent LEDs, as the LEDs will typically differ in their illuminationprofiles. Regardless of the beam shape of any LED, the light that passesthrough the first diffuser 215 can be configured to have a Lambertianbeam profile, such that the emitted spectrum at each of the directionsfrom first diffuser 215 is uniform. Ideally, the ratios between theilluminations at different wavelengths do not depend on the direction tothe plane of the first diffuser 215, as observed from infinity. Suchdirections are indicated schematically by the dashed lines shown in FIG.14, referring to the directions of rays at the output of the firstdiffuser 215 towards the first surface of lens 225.

The first diffuser 215 is preferably placed at the aperture plane of thelens 225. Thus, parallel rays can be focused by the lens to the samelocation on the focal plane of the lens, where the second diffuser 220is placed (preferably supported and protected by cover glass 230). Sinceall illumination directions at the output of the first diffuser 215 havethe same spectrum, the spectrum at the input plane of the seconddiffuser 220 can be uniform (though the absolute power may vary). Thesecond diffuser 220 can then equalize the beam profiles from each of thelocations in its plane, so that the output spectrum is uniform both inlocation and in direction, leading to uniform spectral illuminationacross the sample irrespective of the sample distance from the device(when the sample is close to the device it is more affected by thespatial variance of spectrum, and when the sample is far from the deviceit is more affected by the angular variation of the spectrum).

In designing the radiation diffusion unit 213 configured to improvespectral uniformity, size and power may be traded off in order toachieve the required spectral uniformity. For example, as shown in FIG.15A, the radiation diffusion unit 213 may be duplicated (additionaldiffusers and lenses added), or as shown in FIG. 15B, the radiationdiffusion unit 213 may be configured with a longer length between thefirst and second diffusers, in order to achieve increased uniformitywhile trading off power. Alternatively, if uniformity is less important,some elements in the optics can be omitted (e.g., first diffuser orlens), or simplified (e.g., weaker diffuser, simpler lens).

Referring back to FIG. 12, the spectrometer module 160 comprises one ormore photodiodes 263 that are sensitive to the spectral range ofinterest. For example, a dual Si—InGaAs photodiode can be used tomeasure the sample reflection spectrum in the range of about 400 nm toabout 1750 nm. The dual photodiode structure is composed of twodifferent photodiodes positioned one above the other, such that theycollect illumination from essentially the same locations in the sample.

The one or more photodiodes 263 are preferably placed at the focal planeof lens 225, as shown in FIG. 12. The lens 225 can efficiently collectthe light from a desired area in the sample to the surface of thephotodiode. Alternatively, other light collection methods known in theart can be used, such as a Compound Parabolic Concentrator.

The photodiode current can be detected using a trans-impedanceamplifier. For the dual photodiode architecture embodiment, thephotocurrent can first be converted from current to voltage usingresistors with resistivity that provides high gain on the one hand toreduce noise, while having a wide enough bandwidth and no saturation onthe other hand. An operational amplifier can be connected inphotovoltaic mode amplification to the photodiodes, for minimum noise.Voltage dividers can provide a small bias to the operational amplifier(Op Amp) to compensate for possible bias current and bias voltage at theOp Amp input. Additional amplification may be preferable with voltageamplifiers.

In the embodiment of the spectrometer head shown in FIG. 12, eachphotodiode 263 is responsive to the illumination from typically manyLEDs (or wavelengths). In order to identify the relative contribution oflight from each of the LEDs, the LED current may be modulated, then thedetected photocurrent of the photodiodes may be demodulated.

In some instances, the modulation/demodulation may be achieved by timedivision multiplexing (TDM). In TDM, each LED is switched “on” in adedicated time slot, and the photocurrent sampled in synchronization tothat time slot represents the contribution of the corresponding LED andits wavelength. Black level and ambient light is measured at the “off”times between “on” times.

In some instances, the modulation/demodulation may be achieved byfrequency division modulation (FDM). In FDM, each LED is modulated at adifferent frequency. This modulation can be with any waveform, andpreferably by square wave modulation for best efficiency and simplicityof the driving circuit. This means that at any given time, one or moreof the LEDs can be “on” at the same time, and one of more of the LEDscan be “off” at the same time. The detected signal is decomposed to thedifferent LED contributions, for example by using matched filter or fastFourier transform (FFT), as known to those skilled in the art.

FDM may be preferable with respect to TDM as FDM can provide lower peakcurrent than TDM for the same average power, thus improving theefficiency of the LEDs. The higher efficiency allows for lower LEDtemperatures, which in turn provide better LED spectrum stability.Another advantage of FDM is that FDM has lower electromagneticinterference than TDM (since slower current slopes can be used), andsmaller amplification channel bandwidth requirement than TDM.

In some instances, the modulation/demodulation may be achieved byamplitude modulation, each at a different frequency.

When the LED array uses a shared-electrodes architecture, a single LEDcan be turned “on” when the corresponding row and column are connected(e.g., anode to power and cathode to GND). However, when more than onerow and one column is switched “on”, all the LEDs sharing the connectedrows and columns will be switched on. This can complicate themodulation/demodulation scheme. In order to resolve such a complication,TDM may be used, wherein a single row and a single column is enabled ateach “on” time slot. Alternatively, combined TDM and FDM may be used,wherein a single row is selected with TDM, and FDM is applied on thecolumns (or vice versa). Alternatively, a 2-level FDM may be used,wherein each row and each column is modulated at different frequencies.The LEDs can be decoupled using matched filter or spectrum analysis,while taking special care to avoid overlapping harmonics of basefrequencies.

Referring again to FIG. 12, the illumination module 140 can beconfigured to produce an optical beam 10, which may comprise a visibleaiming beam 20 and a measurement beam 30. As described herein, thevisible aiming beam 20 and measurement beam 30 may be partially orcompletely overlapping, aligned, or coaxial (e.g., around co-axialaiming beam axis 25 and measurement beam axis 35). The aiming beam 20and measurement beam 30 may be produced by the same light source, whichmay comprise two or more LEDs 210. One or more of the two or more LEDs210 may produce light in the visible spectrum, and output enough visiblelight to form the aiming beam 20. All or a portion of the light outputfrom the one or more LEDs in the visible range may form the visibleaiming beam 20. Optionally, operation of one or more of the LEDs 210 maybe adjusted such that the visibility of the aiming beam 20 is enhanced.

Spectrometer System

In some embodiments, the spectrometer system described herein includes adigital processing device, or use of the same. In further embodiments,the digital processing device includes one or more hardware centralprocessing units (CPU) that carry out the device's functions. In stillfurther embodiments, the digital processing device further comprises anoperating system configured to perform executable instructions. In someembodiments, the digital processing device is optionally connected acomputer network. In further embodiments, the digital processing deviceis optionally connected to the Internet such that it accesses the WorldWide Web. In still further embodiments, the digital processing device isoptionally connected to a cloud computing infrastructure. In otherembodiments, the digital processing device is optionally connected to anintranet. In other embodiments, the digital processing device isoptionally connected to a data storage device.

In accordance with the description herein, suitable digital processingdevices include, by way of non-limiting examples, server computers,desktop computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, sub-notebookcomputers, netbook computers, netpad computers, set-top computers,handheld computers, Internet appliances, mobile smartphones, tabletcomputers, personal digital assistants, video game consoles, andvehicles. Those of skill in the art will recognize that many smartphonesare suitable for use in the system described herein. Those of skill inthe art will also recognize that select televisions, video players, anddigital music players with optional computer network connectivity aresuitable for use in the system described herein. Suitable tabletcomputers include those with booklet, slate, and convertibleconfigurations, known to those of skill in the art.

In some embodiments, the digital processing device includes an operatingsystem configured to perform executable instructions. The operatingsystem is, for example, software, including programs and data, whichmanages the device's hardware and provides services for execution ofapplications. Those of skill in the art will recognize that suitableserver operating systems include, by way of non-limiting examples,FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD®, Linux, Apple® Mac OS X Server®, Oracle®Solaris®, Windows Server®, and Novell® NetWare®. Those of skill in theart will recognize that suitable personal computer operating systemsinclude, by way of non-limiting examples, Microsoft® Windows®, Apple®Mac OS X®, UNIX®, and UNIX-like operating systems such as GNU/Linux®. Insome embodiments, the operating system is provided by cloud computing.Those of skill in the art will also recognize that suitable mobile smartphone operating systems include, by way of non-limiting examples, Nokia®Symbian® OS, Apple® iOS®, Research In Motion® BlackBerry OS®, Google®Android®, Microsoft® Windows Phone® OS, Microsoft® Windows Mobile® OS,Linux®, and Palm® WebOS®.

In some embodiments, the device includes a storage and/or memory device.The storage and/or memory device is one or more physical apparatusesused to store data or programs on a temporary or permanent basis. Insome embodiments, the device is volatile memory and requires power tomaintain stored information. In some embodiments, the device isnon-volatile memory and retains stored information when the digitalprocessing device is not powered. In further embodiments, thenon-volatile memory comprises flash memory. In some embodiments, thenon-volatile memory comprises dynamic random-access memory (DRAM). Insome embodiments, the non-volatile memory comprises ferroelectric randomaccess memory (FRAM). In some embodiments, the non-volatile memorycomprises phase-change random access memory (PRAM). In otherembodiments, the device is a storage device including, by way ofnon-limiting examples, CD-ROMs, DVDs, flash memory devices, magneticdisk drives, magnetic tapes drives, optical disk drives, and cloudcomputing based storage. In further embodiments, the storage and/ormemory device is a combination of devices such as those disclosedherein.

In some embodiments, the digital processing device includes a display tosend visual information to a user. In some embodiments, the display is acathode ray tube (CRT). In some embodiments, the display is a liquidcrystal display (LCD). In further embodiments, the display is a thinfilm transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD). In some embodiments,the display is an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display. Invarious further embodiments, on OLED display is a passive-matrix OLED(PMOLED) or active-matrix OLED (AMOLED) display. In some embodiments,the display is a plasma display. In other embodiments, the display is avideo projector. In still further embodiments, the display is acombination of devices such as those disclosed herein.

In some embodiments, the digital processing device includes an inputdevice to receive information from a user. In some embodiments, theinput device is a keyboard. In some embodiments, the input device is apointing device including, by way of non-limiting examples, a mouse,trackball, track pad, joystick, game controller, or stylus. In someembodiments, the input device is a touch screen or a multi-touch screen.In other embodiments, the input device is a microphone to capture voiceor other sound input. In other embodiments, the input device is a videocamera to capture motion or visual input. In still further embodiments,the input device is a combination of devices such as those disclosedherein.

In some embodiments, the spectrometer system disclosed herein includesone or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded witha program including instructions executable by the operating system ofan optionally networked digital processing device. In furtherembodiments, a computer readable storage medium is a tangible componentof a digital processing device. In still further embodiments, a computerreadable storage medium is optionally removable from a digitalprocessing device. In some embodiments, a computer readable storagemedium includes, by way of non-limiting examples, CD-ROMs, DVDs, flashmemory devices, solid state memory, magnetic disk drives, magnetic tapedrives, optical disk drives, cloud computing systems and services, andthe like. In some cases, the program and instructions are permanently,substantially permanently, semi-permanently, or non-transitorily encodedon the media.

In some embodiments, the spectrometer system disclosed herein includesat least one computer program, or use of the same. A computer programincludes a sequence of instructions, executable in the digitalprocessing device's CPU, written to perform a specified task. Computerreadable instructions may be implemented as program modules, such asfunctions, objects, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), datastructures, and the like, that perform particular tasks or implementparticular abstract data types. In light of the disclosure providedherein, those of skill in the art will recognize that a computer programmay be written in various versions of various languages.

The functionality of the computer readable instructions may be combinedor distributed as desired in various environments. In some embodiments,a computer program comprises one sequence of instructions. In someembodiments, a computer program comprises a plurality of sequences ofinstructions. In some embodiments, a computer program is provided fromone location. In other embodiments, a computer program is provided froma plurality of locations. In various embodiments, a computer programincludes one or more software modules. In various embodiments, acomputer program includes, in part or in whole, one or more webapplications, one or more mobile applications, one or more standaloneapplications, one or more web browser plug-ins, extensions, add-ins, oradd-ons, or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, a computer program includes a mobile applicationprovided to a mobile digital processing device. In some embodiments, themobile application is provided to a mobile digital processing device atthe time it is manufactured. In other embodiments, the mobileapplication is provided to a mobile digital processing device via thecomputer network described herein.

In view of the disclosure provided herein, a mobile application iscreated by techniques known to those of skill in the art using hardware,languages, and development environments known to the art. Those of skillin the art will recognize that mobile applications are written inseveral languages. Suitable programming languages include, by way ofnon-limiting examples, C, C++, C#, Objective-C, Java™, Javascript,Pascal, Object Pascal, Python™, Ruby, VB.NET, WML, and XHTML/HTML withor without CSS, or combinations thereof.

Suitable mobile application development environments are available fromseveral sources. Commercially available development environmentsinclude, by way of non-limiting examples, AirplaySDK, alcheMo,Appcelerator®, Celsius, Bedrock, Flash Lite, .NET Compact Framework,Rhomobile, and WorkLight Mobile Platform. Other development environmentsare available without cost including, by way of non-limiting examples,Lazarus, MobiFlex, MoSync, and Phonegap. Also, mobile devicemanufacturers distribute software developer kits including, by way ofnon-limiting examples, iPhone and iPad (iOS) SDK, Android™ SDK,BlackBerry® SDK, BREW SDK, Palm® OS SDK, Symbian SDK, webOS SDK, andWindows® Mobile SDK.

Those of skill in the art will recognize that several commercial forumsare available for distribution of mobile applications including, by wayof non-limiting examples, Apple® App Store, Android™ Market, BlackBerry®App World, App Store for Palm devices, App Catalog for webOS, Windows®Marketplace for Mobile, Ovi Store for Nokia® devices, Samsung® Apps, andNintendo® DSi Shop.

In some embodiments, the spectrometer system disclosed herein includessoftware, server, and/or database modules, or use of the same. In viewof the disclosure provided herein, software modules are created bytechniques known to those of skill in the art using machines, software,and languages known to the art. The software modules disclosed hereinare implemented in a multitude of ways. In various embodiments, asoftware module comprises a file, a section of code, a programmingobject, a programming structure, or combinations thereof. In furthervarious embodiments, a software module comprises a plurality of files, aplurality of sections of code, a plurality of programming objects, aplurality of programming structures, or combinations thereof. In variousembodiments, the one or more software modules comprise, by way ofnon-limiting examples, a web application, a mobile application, and astandalone application. In some embodiments, software modules are in onecomputer program or application. In other embodiments, software modulesare in more than one computer program or application. In someembodiments, software modules are hosted on one machine. In otherembodiments, software modules are hosted on more than one machine. Infurther embodiments, software modules are hosted on cloud computingplatforms. In some embodiments, software modules are hosted on one ormore machines in one location. In other embodiments, software modulesare hosted on one or more machines in more than one location.

In some embodiments, the spectrometer system disclosed herein includesone or more databases, or use of the same. In view of the disclosureprovided herein, those of skill in the art will recognize that manydatabases are suitable for storage and retrieval of information asdescribed herein. In various embodiments, suitable databases include, byway of non-limiting examples, relational databases, non-relationaldatabases, object oriented databases, object databases,entity-relationship model databases, associative databases, and XMLdatabases. In some embodiments, a database is internet-based. In furtherembodiments, a database is web-based. In still further embodiments, adatabase is cloud computing-based. In other embodiments, a database isbased on one or more local computer storage devices.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the spectrometer system 100 typicallycomprises a spectrometer 102 as described herein and a hand held device110 in wireless communication 116 with a cloud based server or storagesystem 118. The spectrometer system 100 can provide a system foranalyzing a material in real time, to determine the identity and/oradditional properties of the material. The obtained informationregarding the material can then guide users in making decisions relatingto the identified material. The spectrometer 102 may have a warm-up timeof less than 5 seconds, in some instances less than 1 second, in orderto support real-time material analysis. The spectrometer can then sendthe data to a hand held device 110, for example via communicationcircuitry 104 having a communication link such as Bluetooth™. The handheld device 110 can transmit the data to the cloud based storage system118. The data can be processed and analyzed by the cloud based server118, and transmitted back to the hand held device 110 to be displayed tothe user. The hand held device 110 may provide a user interface (UI) forcontrolling the operation of the spectrometer 102 and/or viewing data asdescribed in further detail herein.

The hand held device 110 may comprise one or more of a smartphone,tablet, or smartwatch, for example. In some cases, a single devicehaving internet connectivity is configured to communicate with thespectrometer on the one hand and with the cloud based server on theother hand. In some cases, the spectrometer system 100 comprises two ormore hand held devices, connected via Bluetooth communication and/orinternet connection. Each of the two or more hand held devices may beconfigured to communicate with the other devices of the system eitherdirectly or through another hand held device of the system. For example,the system may comprise a mobile phone and a smartwatch, wherein themobile phone is in communication with the spectrometer and the cloudbased server as described. The smartwatch may be configured tocommunicate with the mobile phone via a wireless data connection such asBluetooth, wherein the smartwatch can be configured to control the userinterface of the mobile phone and/or display data received from themobile phone. In some cases, the smartwatch may be configured to haveinternet connection, and may be used in place of the mobile phone tofunction as the data relay point between the spectrometer and the cloudbased server, and to present the user interface to the user.

One or more of the spectrometer, hand held device, and cloud basedserver of the system may comprise a computer system configured toregulate various aspects of data acquisition, transfer, analysis,storage, and/or display. The computer system typically comprises acentral processing unit (also “processor” herein), a memory, and acommunication interface (also “communication circuitry” herein). Theprocessor can execute a sequence of machine-readable instructions, whichcan be embodied in a program or software. The instructions may be storedin a memory location. Each device of the spectrometer system maycommunicate with one or more of the other devices of the system via thecommunication interface.

FIG. 16 shows a schematic diagram of the data flow in the spectrometer102, in accordance with configurations. The spectrometer head 120 isconfigured to acquire raw intensity data for a material when a userscans a material with the spectrometer 102. In addition to the rawspectral data, non-spectral data may also be obtained if thespectrometer 102 includes a sensor module such as a temperature sensormodule described herein. The raw data 400 generated by the spectrometerhead 120 may be transmitted to a processor 106 of the control board 105.The processor 106 may comprise a tangible medium comprising instructionsof a computer program; for example, the processor may comprise a digitalsignal processing unit, which can be configured to compress the rawdata. The compressed raw data signal 405 can then be transmitted to thecommunication circuitry 104, which may comprise a dataencryption/transmission component such as Bluetooth™. Once encrypted,the compressed encrypted raw data signal 410 can be transmitted viaBluetooth to the hand held device 110.

Compression of raw data may be necessary since raw intensity data willgenerally be too large to transmit via Bluetooth in real time. Thecompression may be performed using a data compression algorithm tailoredaccording to the physical properties of the optical system that createthe spatial distribution of light onto the light detector of thespectrometer module. The data generated by the optical system describedherein typically contains symmetries that allow significant compressionof the raw data into much more compact data structures.

FIG. 17 shows a schematic diagram of the data flow in the hand helddevice 110. The hand held device 110 can comprise a processor having acomputer readable memory, the memory embodying instructions forpresenting a user interface (UI) 300 for the spectrometer system via adisplay of the hand held device 110. For example, in configurationscomprising a mobile phone, a readable memory of the phone may comprisemachine executable code in the form of a mobile application, providinginstructions for presenting the UI. The hand held device 110 can alsocomprise a means for receiving user input to the UI, such as atouch-screen interface. The UI provides a space where users may interactwith the spectrometer 102 and with the cloud server 118. For example,the UI can provide a user with the means for controlling the operationof the spectrometer 102, selecting analyses types to perform on the datagenerated from the sample scan, viewing the analyzed data from a samplescan, and/or viewing data from a database stored on the processor of thehand held device 110 or on the cloud server 118. In configurations ofthe system comprising two or more hand held devices 110 in communicationwith one another, the spectrometer may be in communication with a firstdevice, and the first device may be in communication with a seconddevice comprising the display for the UI.

The encrypted, compressed raw data signal 410 from the spectrometer maybe received by the UI 300 of the hand held device 110, wherein the UI isprovided by a processor of the hand held device. The UI may thentransmit the data 410 to the cloud server 118, for example via awireless internet connection. Data may be transmitted automatically inreal time or at certain intervals, or data may be transmitted whenrequested by a user. The UI can optionally add metadata 415 such astime, location, and user information to the raw data and transmit thedata set. A user may also provide instructions to the UI to perform oneor more specific types of analysis; in this case, the UI may transmit,along with the compressed, encrypted raw data 410 and/or metadata 415,user instructions for performing the analysis.

FIG. 18 shows a schematic diagram of the data flow in the cloud basedstorage system or server 118. The cloud server 118 can receivecompressed, encrypted data 410 and/or metadata 415 from the hand helddevice 110. A processor or communication interface of the cloud servercan then decrypt the data, and a digital signal processing unit of thecloud server can perform signal processing on the decrypted signal 420to transform the signal into spectral data 425. The server may performadditional pre-processing of the spectrum, such as noise reduction, toproduce pre-processed spectral data 430. Analysis of the pre-processedspectrum 430 can then be performed by a processor of the server havinginstructions stored thereon for performing various data analysisalgorithms. The analyzed spectral data 435 and/or additional analysisresults 440 (e.g., nutritional content of food, quality of gems, etc.)may be transmitted back from the server to the hand held device, so thatthe results may be displayed to the user via the display of the handheld device. In addition, the analyzed spectral data 435 and/or relatedadditional analysis results 440 may be dynamically added to a universaldatabase 119 operated by the cloud server, where spectral dataassociated with sample materials may be stored. The spectral data storedon the database 119 may comprise data generated by the one or more usersof the spectrometer system 100, and/or pre-loaded spectral data ofmaterials with known spectra. The cloud server may comprise a memoryhaving the database 119 stored thereon.

The cloud based system or server 118 may be accessed remotely, forexample via wireless internet connection, by one or more spectrometersand hand held devices of the spectrometer system. In many instances, thecloud server is simultaneously accessible by more than one users/handheld devices of the system. Hand held devices up to the order ofmillions can be simultaneously connected to the cloud server.

The multiple spectrometers 102 within a spectrometer system 100 maydiffer from one another, for example due to variations in manufacturing.Such differences among the multiple spectrometers may yield significantvariations in the spectral data for the same material obtained by eachspectrometer. In order to ensure that the data contributed to theuniversal database 119 by multiple users are comparable, the system maycomprise a method for calibrating the data generated by eachspectrometer, before adding the data to the universal database. Forexample, the specific optical response of each spectrometer may becharacterized during manufacturing, by measuring how each spectrometerbehaves in response to different kinds of inputs. The inputs maycomprise a set of calibration patterns (spectra) that are measured withthe spectrometer, and the corresponding spectrometer response functionmay be determined and output with the calibration data. Thisspectrometer-specific optical response data may be saved and stored asthe calibration data for the specific spectrometer, typically in thecloud based server. The calibration data may be stored tagged with anidentifier for the specific spectrometer, such that when the serverreceives raw data from the spectrometer, the server can identify andlocate the appropriate calibration data for the specific spectrometer.The server may then apply the spectrometer-specific calibration data inproducing the spectral data from the raw data received from thespectrometer. Such a calibration process can compensate fordevice-to-device variation, providing a way for multiple users of thesystem to make meaningful comparisons among data for the same materialobtained using different spectrometers.

The cloud based server 118 may provide users of the spectrometer system100 with a way of sharing the information obtained in a particularmeasurement. Database 119 located in the cloud server can constantlyreceive the results of measurements made by individual users and updateitself in real time or at regular intervals. The updating of thedatabase 119 based on user contribution can rapidly expand the number ofsubstances for which a spectral signature is available. Thus, eachmeasurement made by a user can contribute towards increasing theaccuracy and reliability of future measurements made by any user of thespectrometer system.

The sharing of information among multiple users of the spectrometersystem through the cloud based server can provide a useful tool formaking informed decisions regarding materials of interest. For example,a user shopping for apples may be interested in finding out what storesmay carry the sweetest apples. The spectrometer system may provide theuser with a means for viewing a map of matter for apples, the map ofmatter presenting a comprehensive compilation of user-contributed,analyzed spectral and non-spectral data for specific materials, asdescribed in further detail herein. The map of matter may be visualizedbased on geographical location, providing users with the ability to viewwhat stores in the area carry relatively sweet apples. The map of mattermay also be visualized based on time/date, such that users may view thedata for apples for different time windows (e.g., within the lasthour/day/week/month, on a certain date or over a certain date range,etc.). Alternatively or in combination, the map of matter may alsoprovide visualization of material data based on store/branch, type ofobject, temperature, number of measurements, and many other factors. Forexample, the system may provide users with a location-based mapdisplaying all data for apples in the universal database, and users maybe click on a particular location/store to view the data summary for theselected store. The store-specific data summary may also be viewed on atimeline, allowing users to determine the trend in the sweetness ofapples carried by the store over time. The spectrometer system may thusbe used to make a more informed purchasing decision.

The spectrum of a sample material can be analyzed using any appropriateanalysis method. The processor of the cloud server 118, hand held device110, or spectrometer 102 may comprise one or more algorithms forspectrum analysis. Non-limiting examples of spectral analysis techniquesthat can be used include Principal Components Analysis, Partial LeastSquares analysis, and the use of a neural network algorithm to determinethe spectral components.

In configurations in which a Raman spectrum is obtained, the Ramansignal can be separated from any fluorescence signal. Both Raman andfluorescence spectra can be compared to existing calibration spectra.After a calibration is performed, the spectra can be analyzed using anyappropriate algorithm for spectral decomposition; non-limiting examplesof such algorithms include Principal Components Analysis, PartialLeast-Squares analysis, and spectral analysis using a neural networkalgorithm. This analysis provides the information needed to characterizethe sample that was tested using the spectrometer. The results of theanalysis can then be presented to the user.

The analysis may or may not be in real time, and the analysis may or maynot be contemporaneous.

The spectrometer system may perform analysis of the raw data locally.The spectrometer system may comprise a memory with a database ofspectral data stored therein, and a processor with analysis softwareprogrammed with instructions. The memory can be volatile or non-volatilein order to store the user's own measurements in the memory.Alternatively, the database of spectral data can be provided with acomputer located near the spectrometer, for example in the same room.Alternatively or in combination, the spectrometer may partially analyzethe raw data prior to transmission to a remote server, such as the cloudserver 118 described herein, wherein heavier calculations for morecomplicated analyses may be performed.

An analyzed spectrum can determine whether a complex mixture beinginvestigated contains a spectrum associated with components. Thecomponents can, for example, be a substance, mixture of substances, ormicroorganisms. The intensity of these components in the spectrum can beused to determine whether a component is at a certain concentration, andwhether the concentration of an undesirable component is high enough tobe of concern. Non-limiting examples of such substances include toxins,decomposition products, or harmful microorganisms. In someconfigurations of the invention, if it is deemed likely that the sampleis not fit for consumption, the user is provided with a warning. Variouspossible applications of the compact spectrometer system are describedin further detail herein.

The spectrometer system 100 may be configured to operate in an off-linemode, when the spectrometer system does not have access to an internetconnection, for example. A sample may be measured by the spectrometer102 in an area lacking internet connection, or the hand-held device 110of the spectrometer system 100 may be unable to connect to the internet.Without access to an internet connection, the spectrometer 102 andhand-held device 100 may be unable to access the cloud based server 118for data analysis. The spectrometer 102 may then store the raw datalocally, for example in a memory of the spectrometer or in a hand-helddevice 110 such as a mobile phone, for later analysis. Alternatively orin combination, the spectrometer 102 may be configured to analyze theraw data locally using data analysis models or algorithms storedlocally, for example in a memory of the spectrometer or in a hand-helddevice 110 such as a mobile phone. The data analysis models andalgorithms may be downloaded by users from the cloud based server 118 tothe hand-held device 110 or spectrometer 102, when the system has accessto an internet connection.

FIG. 30 shows a schematic diagram of an off-line mode of operation ofthe compact spectrometer 102, wherein the raw data is stored locally forlater analysis. At step 3010, the spectrometer 102 may be powered up,and then used to measure the spectra of a sample material or object atstep 3020. At step 3030, the raw data, which may be a compressed andencrypted raw data signal 410 as shown in FIG. 16, may be transmittedfrom the spectrometer 102 to the hand-held device 110 such as a mobilephone. At step 3040, the hand-held device 110 may then check ifconnection to the cloud server 118 is available. If the hand-held deviceis unable to access the cloud server 118, at step 3050, the raw data maybe stored locally, for example in a memory of the hand-held device 110,and marked for later analysis. At step 3060, the user may prompt theuser interface (e.g., a mobile app) of the hand-held device to checkinternet connection or synchronize with the cloud server 118 at regularintervals, for example every few seconds. At step 3070, the userinterface may check whether connection to the cloud server is available.If connection is available, at step 3080, the user interface may beconfigured to check whether there is any unanalyzed, raw data storedlocally, for example in a mobile app of the hand-held device. If locallystored raw data is detected, at step 3090, the raw data may be sent tothe cloud server 118 for analysis, where the analysis may be performedusing models and algorithms stored on the server as described in furtherdetail herein. The analyzed data (e.g., analyzed spectral data 435,additional analysis results 440, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18) may betransmitted back from the server to the hand-held device to be displayedto the user.

FIG. 31 shows a schematic diagram of an off-line mode of operation ofcompact spectrometer 102, wherein the raw data is analyzed locally. Atstep 3110, the spectrometer may be powered up, and then used to measurethe spectra of a sample material or object at step 3120. At step 3130,the raw data, which may be a compressed and encrypted raw data signal410 as shown in FIG. 16, may be transmitted from the spectrometer 102 tothe hand-held device 110 such as a mobile phone. At step 3140, thehand-held device 110 may then check if connection to the cloud server118 is available. If the hand-held device is unable to access the cloudserver 118, at step 3150, the user interface of the hand-held device maycheck if there are any available data analysis models or algorithmsstored locally, for example in a mobile app of the hand-held device. Ifno such models are available, the raw data may be stored for lateranalysis as described in FIG. 30. If the models are available, at step3160, the user interface may analyze the raw data off-line using theavailable models, and store and display to the user the analyzed dataand results. At step 3170, the user may prompt the user interface (e.g.,a mobile app) of the hand-held device to check internet connection orsynchronize with the cloud server 118 at regular intervals, for exampleevery few seconds. At step 3180, the user interface may check whetherconnection to the cloud server is available. If connection is available,at step 3190, the hand held device may download and/or update dataanalysis models and algorithms from the cloud server. At step 3120, anydata that was analyzed off-line and stored locally may be uploaded tothe server and added to the universal database of the server, asdescribed in further detail herein.

FIG. 32 shows a schematic diagram of an off-line mode of operation ofcompact spectrometer 102 for developers. Users may be interested indeveloping applications for the spectrometer system, such as systemdatabases, analysis models or algorithms, or the user interface. Thespectrometer system may be configured to facilitate data collection andupload for developers when the spectrometer system does not have accessto an internet connection. At step 3210, the spectrometer 102 may bepowered up, and then used to measure the spectra of a sample material orobject at step 3220. At this time, the user may also add meta-data tothe sample measurement, such as time, location, or physical propertiesof the sample material. At step 3230, the measurement data, which maycomprise the metadata in addition to the compressed and encrypted rawdata signal 410 as shown in FIG. 16, may be transmitted from thespectrometer 102 to the hand-held device 110 such as a mobile phone. Theraw data may be analyzed locally by a data analysis model or algorithmdeveloped by the user. At step 3240, the hand-held device 110 may thencheck if connection to the cloud server 118 is available. If thehand-held device is unable to access the cloud server 118, at step 3250,the sample measurement data may be stored locally, for example in amemory of the hand-held device 110, and marked for later upload to thecloud server. At step 3260, the user may prompt the user interface(e.g., a mobile app) of the hand-held device to check internetconnection or synchronize with the cloud server 118 at regularintervals, for example every few seconds. At step 3270, the userinterface may check whether connection to the cloud server is available.If connection is available, at step 3280, the user interface may beconfigured to check whether there is any locally stored measurement datathat has not yet been uploaded to the server. If such data is detected,at step 3290, the sample measurement data may be uploaded to the cloudserver 118, where the data may be added to the universal database in thecloud as described in further detail herein. Once uploaded to theserver, the locally stored measurement data may be marked accordingly.

User Interface

The spectrometer system 100 is typically provided with a user interface(UI) that provides a means for users to interact with the spectrometersystem. The UI is typically provided on a display of the hand helddevice 110 of the spectrometer system, the hand held device comprising aprocessor that comprises instructions for providing the UI to thedisplay, for example in the form of a mobile application. The displaycan be provided on a screen. The screen may comprise a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) screen, an LED screen, and/or a touch screen. The UI istypically presented to the user via a display of the hand held device110, and is configured to receive input from the user via an inputmethod provided by the hand held device 110.

FIG. 19 shows a schematic diagram of the flow of the user interface (UI)300. The UI typically comprises a plurality of components as shown inFIG. 19, wherein each UI component may comprise a step of a method forthe processor of the hand held device to provide the computer interface.The user may navigate through each component of the UI, wherein eachcomponent may have one or more corresponding screens configured todisplay user-selectable options, take user inputs, and/or displayoutputs of user-initiated actions (e.g., analyzed data, search results,actionable insights, etc.). A user-selectable option within a UIcomponent may include an analysis identifier, such as an image or text,or an icon associated with a spectroscopic analysis application. When auser selects a user-selectable option within a UI component, forexample, by touching the icon for a particular option, the processorproviding the UI may carry out a set of instructions associated with theuser-selected option. As a result, the UI may be directed to a newscreen associated with a component of the UI related to theuser-selected option. FIG. 20 illustrates an example of how a user maynavigate through different components of a UI. In this example, the userbegins from the screen of the UI associated with the component “Home”310, described in further detail herein, as shown on the left. From“Home” 310, the user selects the option “Universe”, which is associatedwith the component “Universe” 340 of the UI. As a result, the UI directsthe user to the screen associated with the “Universe” 340 component, asshown on the right.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize variations andadaptations that may be made to the UI flow as shown in FIG. 19,including, but not limited to, the removal or addition of one or morecomponents, one or more components arranged in a different order, and/orone or more components comprising subcomponents of other components. Oneor more of the processors as described herein may comprise a tangiblemedium embodying instructions to provide one or more of the componentsof the user interface or to implement the method of the computerinterface, and combinations thereof.

Typically, when a user opens the application providing the UI, the useris directed to the component “Home” 310. In the “Home” 310 component,the main action presented to the user may be an invitation to scan asample material, via the “Scan” 350 component. FIG. 21A shows anexemplary mobile application UI screen corresponding to the “Home” 310component of the UI. “Home” 310 is also the entry point to thecomponents “Me” 320, “My Tools” 330, and “Universe” 340. “Me” 320provides access to private user information. “My Tools” 330 providesaccess to personalized tools for scanning and analyzing materials.“Universe” 340 provides access to information in the universal database119 operated by the cloud server 118 as described herein.

“Me” 320 may provide access to one or more of “My profile” 322, “Mystatus/privileges/awards” 324, and “My materials” 326. “My profile” 322may store a user's personal information, such as name and location, forexample. “My profile” 322 can also store a user's personal settings forcertain aspects of the system, such as privacy preferences, for example.“My status/privileges/awards” 324 may track a user's history ofperforming scans using the spectrometer system and contributing data tothe universal database 119, for example. Based on the user'scontribution to the universal database, the user may be given certainprivileges, credits, or recognition, thereby providing an incentive forusers to actively contribute data to the universal database. Forexample, “contribution scores” may be kept by the system for each user,and displayed under “My status/privileges/awards”. Users may also beprovided with a way of interacting with other users of the spectrometersystem, either through “My status/privileges/awards” 324 or through aseparate module. For example, users may be provided with a way ofrecommending/liking other users based on their contribution status, andsuch feedback from other users may be accessed via “Mystatus/privileges/awards” 324 or another appropriate component. “Mymaterials” 326 can allow users to view and compare data associated withtheir materials via the “Compare” 327 component. The scans performed bya user may be stored in “My materials” under a tag, and kept private orpublic (accessible by other users via the universal database 119)depending on user preference. “Compare” 327 can provide users with theability to compare scans by tags, either across different tags or withina given tag. “My materials” 326 can also provide users with the abilityto document their projects via the “Document 328” component, for exampleby adding notes or image data associated with a material. “My materials”326 can also provide users with the ability to track their projects viathe “Track” 329 component, wherein, for example, the UI may display acomplete, sortable and/or searchable list of projects for the user. Scandata that users choose to store in the public domain may be accessed byother users of the system, and “Track” 329 may also provide a way for auser to track other users' projects.

“My tools” 330 can provide quick access to personalized tools forscanning and analyzing materials that may be initiated directly withoutgoing through the “Scan” 350 component. A user may directly build andsave a specific analysis (e.g., if the user is interested in using thespectrometer to determine the percent fat in cheese, he/she may set upsuch an analysis by identifying the material and the parameter ofinterest for the analysis). Alternatively or in combination, once a userhas used the spectrometer to perform scans, the user may be given theoption of storing favorite tools/analyses. Alternatively or incombination, the system may automatically store frequently usedtools/analyses for access under “My tools”. “Find” 332 can provide userswith a way of searching for a desired analysis tool among stored tools.“My tools” may also be configured to notify users about new tools thatare made available by the system. Once a user selects a desired analysismethod from the component “Find” 332, the user may be invited toinitiate a scan through the UI component “Scan” 350, described infurther detail herein. However, since the analysis method has alreadybeen selected, “Scan” 350 may be configured to skip over someintermediate steps (e.g., identification of the material), and proceeddirectly to displaying the answer to the user's query through thecomponent “Specific answer to a question” 386.

“Universe” 340 can give users access to the universal database 119operated by the cloud server 118, wherein spectral signatures ofmaterials are stored for comparison against and analysis of scanneddata. “Universe” 340 may be displayed as a graphical map, providingusers with a generic visualization of the map of matter by differentattributes. For example, the map may be organized by geographic,material, gender, maturity, or “popularity” attributes. A user may beable to zoom in and out of the map to get to a specific material page.The map of matter for a specific material may be visualized based on oneor more of a geographical location, time/date, store/branch, type ofobject, temperature, number of measurements, and many other factors.Different types of materials in the map may develop at different paces,resulting in different “maturity” levels over time; accordingly, thevisualization of the branches of the map may differ based on thismaturity level. “Universe” 340 can thus provide users with a way toviewing the map through three separate UI components, “Developingbranches” 342, “Mature” 344, and “Unexplored” 346, which may displaydifferent types of information, display the map using differentvisualizations, and/or present different user-selectable options. Themap of matter may highlight a user's own contributions to the map in thedisplay, so that the user may be able to visualize his/her scans in thecontext of the map. Users may be given the ability to search formaterial “soul mates” (e.g., materials having similar spectralsignatures), or track down “experts” in a certain material branch byidentifying users who have made significant contributions to a branch ofinterest. “Universe” 340 may also provide users with notificationsregarding materials that the user is interested in, such as newcontributions/map progress made on certain materials. Users may be givena way to set up “campaigns” to foster maturity of a certain branch inthe map of matter, and the “Universe” may also send users notificationsregarding such campaigns.

An exemplary workflow for scanning a material with the spectrometersystem is now described with reference to FIG. 19. A user may initiate ascan from the screen corresponding to the UI component “Home” 310, suchas the one shown in FIG. 21A, by pressing a button on the spectrometeror on the mobile application presenting the UI. When a scan isinitiated, the UI directs the user to the screen corresponding to thecomponent “Scan” 350, which may instruct the spectrometer to begin ameasurement, compress and encrypt the raw data, and/or transmit thecompressed and encrypted data to the UI of the hand held device.

When data is received by the UI, the UI may initiate the “What is it?”(WIT) 352 component, which may comprise the system's main classificationalgorithm. The main classification algorithm may, for example, attemptto determine the material's identity based on the spectrum of thematerial, by comparing the spectrum against the spectra of knownmaterials stored in the user's personal database stored under the “MyMaterials” component and/or the universal database 119. The algorithmmay yield three different results: the identification of similar spectrain the “Universe” database, the identification of similar spectra in the“My Materials” database, or a failure to find any matching spectra ineither database. The outcome of the algorithm run by the “What is it?”352 component may be presented to the user via the “Result” 354component, wherein the user may view the preliminary identificationresults and provided with a range of selectable options for furtheractions, as described herein for each possible outcome.

If one or more similar materials are identified in the “Universe”database, the user may be directed to the screen corresponding to the UIcomponent “Similar in universe” 356. From here, the user may be giventhe option to view the data relevant to the material in the universaldatabase 119, directing the user to the UI component “Universe” 340.Alternatively, the user may be asked to confirm that the material indeedmatches the identified material(s), through the UI component “Confirm”362. If the system has found a plurality of materials with spectrasimilar to the sample, the user may be asked to select one or more ofthese “matching” materials for further analysis.

If one or more similar materials are identified in the “My materials”database, the user may be directed to the “Similar in My Materials” 355component of the UI. From here, the user may choose to navigate to the“My status/privileges/awards” 324 component or the “My materials” 326component, where the user may view and compare data associated withtheir materials. Alternatively, the user may be asked to confirm thatthe material indeed matches the identified material(s), through the UIcomponent “Confirm” 362.

If the identity of the measured material is positively confirmed by theuser, the system may initiate the “Compare” 327 component to allow usersto view and compare data associated with their material. The user mayalso document the results of the scan through the “Document” 328component of the UI, which provide users with the option of adding notesor other miscellaneous data relating to the measurement. For example, asshown in FIG. 21B, an image of the measured material may be added,wherein the image may be acquired by an image capture device integratedwith, or separate from but in communication with, the spectrometersystem. The UI may also present users with the option of running furtheranalyses of the material, through the UI component “Deeper results” 364.Further analyses may include, for example, analyses of specificnutritional attributes of a food item (e.g., percentage offat/carbohydrates/protein, number of calories), specific contribution ofa pharmaceutical product, or attributes of a plant (e.g., watercontent). The user may be given the option of selecting one or moretypes of analysis, for example by searching through a list of availableanalyses for the confirmed material. Alternatively or in combination,the system may automatically select one or more appropriate analysistools, based on the identity of the material. For example, the systemmay further comprise an image capture device such as a camera, and maybe configured to receive image data acquired by the image capturedevice, to use at least a portion of the image data in automaticallyselecting the appropriate analysis tools. In order to aid in theautomatic selection of the analysis tool, a processing device of thespectrometer system may be configured to recognize a characteristic ofthe material based on the image data. In configurations where two ormore different types of analyses are selected, the selection of theanalysis types may be based on a predetermined hierarchy.

Once further analyses are completed, the UI can display the data for themeasured material through the “Material page” 380 component of the UI.The UI may optionally provide the user with actionable insight via the“Actionable insight” 384 component. FIGS. 21B and 21C show an exemplarymobile application UI screen corresponding to the “Material page” 380and “Actionable insight” 384 components of the UI (FIG. 21C shows thescreen of FIG. 21B scrolled down). As shown in FIG. 21B, the UI maydisplay results of the analysis, such as the identity and nutritionalcontent analysis of the material; some additional parameters that may bedisplayed in the results include an image of a material, a freshness ofa material, and a textual description of a material. A visualrepresentation of the spectral data may also be displayed to the user.The display of results may also include a visualization of the map ofmatter of the component “Universe” 340. The UI may also provide theusers with a way of connecting with other users interested in themeasured material, through the “People↔Material” 382 component. Forexample, the component may enable users to participate in socialmessaging as shown in FIG. 21C, fostering conversations among systemusers related to the identified material.

The “Actionable insight” 384 component may provide users with the optionof selecting one or more specific questions related to the measuredmaterial, such as those shown in FIG. 21C, whose answer may provide aninsight that can be used as basis for taking a certain course of action.For example, if the identified material is an apple with a relativelyhigh sugar content, the UI may inform the user that the user shouldselect/consume the apple if the user desires a sweet fruit, or,conversely, that the user should not select/consume the apple if theuser has a condition, such as diabetes, that would make the high sugarcontent an attribute that should be avoided. The UI may, optionally,have the ability to store personal data such as certain conditionsand/or preferences, such that the UI may automatically select anddisplay the most appropriate actionable insight for the specific user.The answer or actionable insight may be provided to the user via the“Specific answer to a question” 386 component. The component 386 mayalso be directly accessible via the “My Tools” 330 component, wherein aspecific analysis method may be chosen prior to initiating a scan, andthe user can directly obtain an answer or actionable insight to aspecific question regarding a specific material.

Sometimes, the component “Confirm” 362 may not yield a positiveconfirmation by the user. If the identity of the measured material doesnot actually match the material(s) that the system has found to be a“match”, the user may be prompted to provide basic information regardingthe measured material, through the component “Basic contribution” 368.Once the basic identity of the material has been provided, users mayoptionally be asked to contribute additional data, through the component“Contribute more data specific to the material/family” 378. Users may,for example, contribute metadata such as physical properties of thematerial, or image data. From here, users may be directed to “Materialpage” 380 where they may view information regarding the material ofinterest, and/or users may participate in socialconversations/interactions with other users of the system via thecomponent “People↔Material” 382.

When a user generates spectral data through the “Scan” 350 component orcontributes non-spectral data through the “Basic contribution” 368and/or “Contribute more data” 378 components, the data may be added tothe universal database 119. Data may be automatically added to theuniversal database 119, while giving the user the option to keep thecontribution “private” (not accessible by other users of the system).Any data generated or contributed by a specific user may also be addedto the user's personal database of materials stored in the “MyMaterials” component. Data in a user's personal database may beconfigured to be kept private or to be shared with other users of thesystem. Alternatively, some of the data in the personal database may bekept private, while some may be shared with other users.

In order to maintain the integrity and validity of the data contained inthe universal database, a system check may be implemented before thedatabase is updated with the data from a scan. The system check may beinitiated, for example, at the “Document” 328 component (where newlygenerated spectral data is added to the database), or at the “BasicContribution” 368/“Contribute more data” 378 component (whereuser-contributed non-spectral data is added to the database). The systemcheck may, for example, comprise an outlier detection algorithm, whereindata for the relevant material family is sorted, and the new data pointis compared against the existing data to verify the validity of the newdata point (e.g., whether the new data point falls within a specifiedstandard deviation from the average of the existing data points). Anydata point identified as an “outlier” may be held back from being addedto the database, and/or “quarantined” in a location separate from theuniversal database. An “outlier” may comprise, for example, a data pointfor a known material that differs significantly from the mean data forthe material, or any data point for a previously unrecognizedmaterial/spectrum. A quarantined “outlier” data point may eventually beadded to the universal database, as data points previously recognized asoutliers may become recognized as valid as the size and breadth of theuniversal database grows over time. The system check for verifying thevalidity of new data may also be based on one or more conditionsassociated with collection of the acquired light spectrum, including atleast one of a temperature, a geographic location, a category of amaterial, a type of a material, a chemical composition, a time, anappearance of a material, a color of a material, a taste of a material,a smell of a material, and an observable characteristic associated witha material.

After performing a scan through the “Scan” 350 component, the system mayfail to find a match for the measured material's spectrum, in either the“Universe” database or the “My materials” database. In this case, the“Unrecognized by WIT” 360 component of the UI may be initiated. The usermay be directed to the “Basic contribution” 368 component of the UI,described in further detail herein, where the user may be asked tocontribute basic identity information (if known) regarding the sampledmaterial. If the sampled material is a known material with a previouslyunidentified spectrum, the UI may initiate the “Known but unidentifiedmaterial” 370 component, wherein the user may be asked to contributeadditional data relating to the material via the “Contribute more data”378 component. If the sampled material is a known material belonging toa known branch of the map of matter, the UI may initiate the “Knownbranch” 372 component, wherein the user may be asked to contributeadditional data relating to the material via the “Contribute more data”378 component. If the sampled material is a completely unknown materialthat doesn't appear to belong to any known branches comprising classesof classifications of the map of matter, the UI may initiate the“Unexplored territory” 374 component. The “Unexplored territory” 374component may direct the UI to run the “New project” 376 component,which can create a new, exploratory branch in the map of matter (e.g.,under the “Unexplored” 346 component of the “Universe” 340). The“Unexplored territory” 374 component may prompt the user to contributeas much information as possible regarding the material, including imagesand/or textual descriptions of the material.

The UI may further be configured to track user preferences and providerecommendations based on acquired light spectra. For example, a user mayscan a product to obtain a light spectrum, and based on the spectrumand/or pre-stored user preference data, the system may send the user arecommendation about the scanned product. The universal database may beconfigured to store spectroscopic data and associated preference datafor each system user, and a processing device of the system may beconfigured to receive a recommendation request from a device associatedwith a user, and generate and provide a recommendation based on theanalyzed data. The processing device of the system can be configured toreceive and process update requests for user preference settings. Forexample, a user may set his/her preferences regarding product trackingand recommendation functions through the “Me” component of the UI.

The UI may further provide means for supporting applications developmentby users, in order to encourage user involvement in developing andimproving the system databases, algorithms, and/or user interface.

The UI may provide support for chemometric applications development, forexample, for users/developers who are interested in developing newmodels, analysis algorithms, and/or databases of the materials they wantto support in their applications. Developers may first collect relevantsamples and measure them using the spectrometer system disclosed herein.Developers may then create a model or algorithm using a set ofalgorithms provided by the spectrometer system's infrastructure.Developers can test their model and see how well it functions, and thencorrect it to get optimal results. Once the model development iscompleted, developers can “publish” their model on the spectrometersystem's infrastructure and allow other users to use the model. Usersmay use the model as part of the spectrometer system's mobileapplication, or developers may also develop their own mobile applicationthat can run the developed model. If developers choose to develop theirown mobile application, the newly created mobile application maycommunicate with the spectrometer system's infrastructure to run themodel.

The UI may also provide support for mobile applications development, forusers/developers who are interested in using the existing databasestructure and analysis algorithms to build new mobile applications.Developers may take advantage of existing chemometric applicationsand/or models to create a new user interface and a new user experience,possibly with new related content. Developers may “publish” their newmobile application on the spectrometer system's infrastructure, allowingothers to access and use their mobile app.

The UI may also provide an option for researchers (“Researcher Mode”),where researchers are provided with the ability to generate their owndatabase, then download the raw data of the database for their own use,outside of the spectrometer system's infrastructure. Such an option canprovide researchers with maximum flexibility in handling data.

FIGS. 22A-22F show a method 500 for the processor of a hand held deviceto provide the user interface 300 for the spectrometer system, asdescribed herein.

Referring to FIG. 22A, at step 510, the UI is initialized, for exampleby a user starting a mobile application providing the UI, and the “Home”310 component is presented to the user as described herein. The “Home”310 component may present the user with the options of selecting one of“Me”, “My Tools”, “Universe”, or “Scan”.

At step 520, “Me” is selected from step 510, and the user is directed tothe “Me” 320 component of the UI, as described herein. “Me” 320 mayprovide access to one or more of “My profile” 322, “Mystatus/privileges/awards” 324, and “My materials” 326. At step 522, the“My profile” 322 component is executed, as described herein. At step524, the “My status/privileges/awards” component 324 is executed, asdescribed herein. At step 526, the “My materials” 326 component isexecuted, as described herein. “My materials” 326 may provide access toone or more of “Compare” 327, “Document” 328, or “Track” 329. At step527, the “Compare” 327 component of the UI is executed, as describedherein. At step 528, the “Document” 328 component of the UI is executed,as described herein. At step 529, the “Track” 329 component of the UI isexecuted, as described herein.

Now referring to FIG. 22B, at step 530, “My Tools” is selected from step510, and the user is directed to the “My tools” 530 component of the UI,as described herein. At step 532, an analysis method is selected by theuser from the UI component “Find” 332, as described herein. At step 550,the “Scan” 350 component of the UI is executed, as described herein,using the analysis method selected at step 532. At step 586, the“Specific answer to a question” 386 component of the UI is executed asdescribed herein, wherein the user is presented with an actionableinsight.

Now referring to FIG. 22C, at step 540, “Universe” is selected from step510, and the user is directed to the “Universe” 340 component of the UI,as described herein. At step 542, the “Developing branches” 342component is executed, as described herein. At step 544, the “Maturebranches” 344 component is executed, as described herein. At step 546,the “Unexplored branches” 346 component is executed, as describedherein.

Now referring to FIG. 22D, at step 550, “Scan” is selected from step510, and the user is directed to the “Scan” 350 component of the UI, asdescribed herein. At step 552, the “What is it?” 352 component isexecuted, as described herein. At step 554, the “Result” 354 componentis executed, as described herein. “Result” 354 may provide access to oneor more of “Similar in universe” 356, “Similar in my materials” 355, or“Unrecognized by WIT” 360. At step 556, the “Similar in universe” 356component is executed, as described herein, wherein the user may beprovided with the option of selecting between “Universe” 340 and“Confirm” 362. At step 555, the “Similar in my materials” 355 componentmay be executed, as described herein. At step 555, the user may beprovided with the option of selecting between “My materials” 326 or“Confirm” 362. At step 560, the “Unrecognized by WIT” 360 component ofthe UI is executed, as described herein.

Now referring to FIG. 22E, at step 562, the “Confirm” 362 component ofthe UI is executed. At step 562, the user may be provided with theoption of selecting one or more of “Compare” 327, “Deeper results” 364,or “Basic contribution” 368. At step 527, the “Compare” 327 component ofthe UI is executed, as described herein. At subsequent step 528, the“Document” 328 component of the UI is executed, as described herein. Atstep 564, the “Deeper results” 364 component of the UI is executed, asdescribed herein. At step 564, the user may select between “Materialpage” 380 or “Actionable insight” 384. At step 584, the “Actionableinsight” 384 component of the UI is executed, as described herein. Atsubsequent step 586, the “Specific answer to a question” 386 componentof the UI is executed, as described herein. At step 580, the “Materialpage” 380 component of the UI is executed, as described herein. Atsubsequent step 582, the “People↔Material” 382 component of the UI isexecuted, as described herein. At 568, the “Basic contribution” 368component of the UI is executed, as described herein. At subsequent step578, the “Contribute more data specific to the material/family” 378component of the UI is executed, as described herein. Subsequent to step578, the user may be directed to step 582, as described herein.

Now referring to FIG. 22F, at step 560, the “Unrecognized by WIT” 360component of the UI is executed. At step 560, the user may be directedto one of the UI components “Known but unidentified material” 370,“Known branch” 372, or “Unexplored territory” 374. At step 370, the“Known but unidentified material” 370 component of the UI is executed,as described herein. At step 372, the “Known branch” 372 component ofthe UI is executed, as described herein. Subsequent to steps 370 or 372,the user may be directed to the component “Contribute more data” 378 instep 578, as described herein. At step 574, the “Unexplored territory”374 component of the UI is executed, as described herein. At subsequentstep 576, the “New project” 376 component of the UI is executed, asdescribed herein.

Although the above steps show a method 500 of providing the UI 300 inaccordance with configurations, a person of ordinary skill in the artwill recognize many variations based on the teachings described herein.The steps may be completed in a different order. Steps may be added ordeleted. Some of the steps may comprise sub-steps of other steps. Manyof the steps may be repeated as often as desired by the user.

Applications of the Compact Spectrometer System

The spectrometer system herein disclosed may be integrated into variousdevices and products across many industries. In order to facilitate theuse of the system in various applications, the spectrometer system 100may comprise a processor comprising instructions for performing varioustypes of analyses for various applications. Some examples of theseapplications are described herein, but are in no way exhaustive.

Because of its small size and low cost, the spectrometer may beintegrated into appliances commonly used in these various applications.For example, for food-related applications, the pocket size spectrometermay be integrated into kitchen appliances such as ovens (e.g. microwaveovens), food processors, and refrigerators. The user can then make adetermination of the safety of the ingredients in real time during thecourse of food storage and preparation.

The spectrometer system disclosed herein may be used for agriculturalapplications. For example, the spectrometer system may be used toestimate the total solid solubles or “Brix” content in fruit. The pocketsized, hand-held spectrometer can easily be used to non-destructivelymeasure the solid soluble content or water content of unpicked fruits,yielding information regarding the ripeness or firmness of the fruits.This will allow the farmer to monitor the fruits in a fast way anddecide on appropriate picking time with no need to destroy products.Another example of an agricultural application for the spectrometersystem is the field measurement of fertilization status of plants, suchas grains, coffee, spices, oil-seeds, or forage. The hand-heldspectrometer can be used to obtain information about the fertilizationstatus of the plant by non-destructively measuring the near infrared(NIR) spectrum of the plant. The spectral signature of components suchas nitrogen, phosphate, and potash can be analyzed to provide thefertilization status per plant. The spectrometer system may also be usedfor field measurements of plant status. A pocket-sized spectrometer canallow on-line in-field spectrum analysis of the different parts of theplants, and can be used for early detection of plants stress anddiseases development. The spectrometer system may also be useful forproviding soil analysis. Fast in-field analysis of the soil spectrumusing the hand-held spectrometer may provide a tool to monitorfertilization, watering, and salinity of the soil in many points in thefield. Such an analysis can provide a powerful decision tool forfarmers. The spectrometer may also be used for analyzing milk, forexample for analyzing the fat or melamine content of the milk.

The spectrometer system disclosed herein may be used for home gardeningapplications. For example, the spectrometer may be used to analyze thewater content in leaves. The pocket-size spectrometer can be used toobtain the spectra of the leaves, and the spectral signature of watercan be used to estimate the water content in the leaves. Such a tool cangive the user a direct access to the plant's watering status. Asdiscussed above, the spectrometer system may also be used to analyzesoil. The spectral signature of water, nitrogen, phosphate, and potash,and other relevant soil components can be detected by a pocket sizespectrometer. By scanning the soil with the spectrometer, the user maybe able to estimate the watering and fertilization status of the soil.

The spectrometer system disclosed herein may be used for pharmaceuticalapplications. For example, the spectrometer system may be used toidentify pills. Scanning medications with pocket size spectrometer canreveal the unique spectral signature that each medication has. The pillmay be placed in a close and adjusted cave to enhance the signal that isreflected from it, and an analysis of the pill may be performed. Thespectral signature of the pill can provide an exact and reliable way toidentify the pill, thus helping to prevent confusion between similarmedications and/or the use of counterfeit medications. Another exampleof a pharmaceutical application of the spectrometer system is theidentification of active ingredients levels in Cannabis. The activeingredients (e.g., tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD)) ofcannabis can impose unique features on the spectral range of both thewet (unpicked) inflorescence and on its dried form. Scanning theinflorescence with the hand-held spectrometer can provide a fast andaccurate estimation of the content of the active ingredients in theinflorescence.

The spectrometer system disclosed herein may be used in food analysisapplications. For example, the spectrometer may be used to obtainnutrient information of food. Fats, carbohydrates, water, and proteinshave detectable spectral signatures. Scanning the food with a pocketsize spectrometer, in tandem with on-line analysis of the spectrum, canprovide an immediate way to get the food's macro-nutrients estimation,including accurate estimation of its caloric value. Another example of afood analysis application for the spectrometer system is oil qualityassurance. Detecting changes of the spectrum of cooking oils by scanningthe oils with pocket size spectrometer can give the users access tochemical changes of the oxidation and acidity levels of the oil.Analysis of these changes can provide an immediate and accurate oilquality measurement. The spectrometer system may also be used to monitorfood quality. Bacterial by-products and enzymatic processes can leavechemical traces in the food, which may have unique spectral signatures.Analyzing these chemical fingerprints by scanning the food with pocketsize spectrometer can be used to detect these changes and provideinformation on the food's quality. The spectrometer system can also beused to determine the ripeness of fruits. Enzymatic processes andchanges in the water content can be detected by scanning a fruit withpocket size spectrometer, giving an accurate estimation of the fruit'sripeness level. The spectrometer system can also be used for gutter oilidentification. The fatty acids composition (FAC) of oils determines theoils' spectra. Thus, the spectrum of an oil can be used to identify theFAC and by that to identify the type of the oil. In particular gutteroil can be identified as different types of edible oils. A pocket sizespectrometer with on-line spectrum analysis can thus be used to detectand identify gutter oils. The spectrometer system may also be used toensure food safety. The existence of hazardous materials in foodproducts can be detected by scanning the food with the spectrometer andanalyzing the resultant spectrum. Similarly, the spectrometer can beused to determine pet food quality. The pocket size spectrometer can beused to analyze the content of pet-food, such as the amount of meat andmacro-nutrients in the food. Analysis of the spectral signature of thefood can verify the food content and quality.

The spectrometer system disclosed herein may also be used in gemologyapplications. For example, the spectrometer may be used in theauthentication of gems. Gems have different spectra than look-alikecounterfeits. Scanning a gem with spectrometer can verify theauthenticity of the gem and provide its declared quality, by comparingthe spectrum of the measured gem with the spectra of gems of knownidentity and quality, pre-loaded in the database. The spectrometer canbe used to sort multiple gems according to their quality. The quality ofgems can be determined by analyzing the gem's spectrum, since impuritiesand processing can affect the spectral signature of the gem. Scanningmultiple gems with a pocket size spectrometer gems can enable a quickyet rigorous classification of the gems according to their spectra.

The spectrometer system disclosed herein may also be used in lawenforcement applications. For example, the spectrometer may be used toidentify explosives. A pocket size spectrometer can provide the lawenforcement personnel with an immediate analysis of the spectrum of thepotential explosives. The spectrum of the material in question can becompared to an existing database of spectra of explosive materials.Uploading the explosive's spectrum can be used to link explosives thatwere found in different times and places, because of the unique spectraof non-standard explosives. The spectrometer can also provide the lawenforcement personnel a fast and accurate way to identify illegal drugs.This is done by analyzing the spectrum of the material in question andcomparing the spectrum to an existing database of drug spectra.Uploading the sampled drug's spectrum can be used to link drugsidentified in different cases, because of the unique spectra that thedrugs may have (resulting, for example, from adulteration with powders,processing, etc.).

The spectrometer system disclosed herein may also be used inauthentication applications. For example, the spectrometer may be usedfor the authentication of alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages ofdifferent brands have unique chemical compositions, determined by themany factors including the source of the ingredients and the processingof the ingredients. A pocket size spectrometer can provide these uniquechemical signatures, providing a fast authentication procedure forverifying an expected alcoholic beverage composition. For example, thespectrometer may be configured to detect an amount of methanol orgamma-hydroxybutyric acid present in a beverage. The user may scan theproduct, and the spectrum can be instantly analyzed and compared tospectra from a pre-loaded database, and within seconds a proof oforiginality can be provided. The spectrometer system may also be used toobtain infrared spectra of goods, to serve as proofs of originality.

The spectrometer system disclosed herein may also be used in healthcareapplications. For example, the spectrometer may be used for body fatestimation. Total body fat may be estimated by measuring the thicknessof the subcutaneous adipose tissue at various locations of the humanbody. This can be done by scanning the skin in various places withpocket size spectrometer, and analyzing the spectra. The spectrometermay also be used to identify dehydration. A direct, non-invasivemeasurement of fluid balance may be obtained by observing skin surfacemorphology, which is associated with water content. A pocket-sizedspectrometer can be used to scan the skin surface and therebycontinuously monitor the dehydration level. A pocket size spectrometercan also provide a fast way to measure blood componentsnon-destructively. The spectrometer can scan the sample inside testtubes, preserving the samples for further laboratory analysis. Such ananalysis can yield immediate results that may be less accurate thanlaboratory test results, but can be followed up and verified by the labtest results at a later time point. For example, hemoglobin analysis canbe performed using a pocket size spectrometer, which can identifyhemoglobin levels in blood by taking non-invasive scans of bloodsamples. The small size and ease of use of the spectrometer can enable acontinuous monitoring of hemoglobin levels, alerting the user to sharpchanges in the levels and potential anemia. The spectrometer can also beused for analyzing the skin for various properties. For example,scanning the skin with the spectrometer can provide a direct way toanalyze lesions, wounds, moles and spots, allowing a user to examineskin issues like tissue hypoxia, deep tissue injury, melanoma, etc.,from home. In addition, skin analysis using the spectrometer may providecosmetic information that allows customization of cosmetic products.Similarly, the spectrometer may provide a way to analyze hair. Scanningthe hair with a pocket size spectrometer can provide valuableinformation about the hair (type, condition, damage, etc.) that can beused to customize cosmetic products like shampoo, conditioner, or otherhair products.

The spectrometer may also be used for urine analysis at home. Aspectrometer as disclosed herein may allow an immediate analysis ofvarious solutes in the urine such as sodium, potassium, creatinine, andurea. In particular, a method 600 of urine salt analysis, as shown inFIG. 23, can be a useful tool for monitoring blood pressure. High bloodpressure may be correlated with high levels of oral sodium intake, whichcan lead to high levels of sodium and potassium in the urine. However,an accurate determination of sodium intake via urine analysis can bedifficult, as the absolute levels of sodium and potassium in the urinemay be affected by confounding factors such as the volume of fluidsconsumed. In order to determine the levels of sodium and potassium inthe urine that are truly correlated with sodium intake, measured levelsof sodium and potassium may be normalized by measured levels ofcreatinine in the urine. For example, at step 610, a urine sample may bescanned using the spectrometer system described herein. At step 620, thespectrometer system may determine the level of creatinine in the urinebased on the light spectrum of the urine sample. Similarly, at step 630,the spectrometer system may determine the level of sodium in the urine;at step 640, the spectrometer system may determine the level ofpotassium in the urine. At step 650, the level of sodium may benormalized, by dividing by the level of creatinine; similarly, at step660, the level of potassium may be normalized, by dividing by the levelof creatinine. The user interface may present to the usercreatinine-normalized sodium and potassium levels in the urine, asindicators of the user's sodium intake. A spectrometer system configuredto perform urine analysis methods such as method 600 can enable thecontinuous monitoring of urine solutes from home, as a way of monitoringrelated health conditions such as high blood pressure. The method 600 ofurine salt analysis may also be performed using an electro-chemicalsensor comprising parts of the spectrometer system described herein. Thespectrometer or electro-chemical sensor may be embedded in a urinaland/or a toilet, in order to perform urine analysis as described herein.

The spectrometer system disclosed herein may also be used for fuelquality monitoring. For example, the spectrometer may be used todetermine a type of fuel, a contaminant level, octane level, cetanelevel, or other substance composition. The spectrometer system for suchapplications may be configured for integration with a vehicle component.The vehicle component may be a fuel system component, such as a fueltank, fuel line, or fuel injector of the vehicle.

The spectrometer system disclosed herein may also be used for monitoringpower components. For example, the spectrometer may be used to determinethe condition associated with a fluid of a power converting component.

The spectrometer system disclosed herein may be configured to measure asubstance at a specific level of sensitivity suited for a specificapplication. For example, as described herein, the system may be used todetermine the concentration of melamine in milk (powder or liquid).Generally, in many governments and regulatory agencies around the world,the allowable upper limit of melamine is in the range from about 0.1 toabout 2 ppm, or approximately 1 ppm. However, such allowable upperlimits may comprise aggressive margins designed to ensure that themelamine contaminants cause no damage even for the long term. For manyconsumers, an acceptable upper limit of melamine in milk may be closerto approximately 100 ppm, wherein levels above about 100 ppm may havepotential implications for long term effects. Levels above about 1000ppm may potentially cause short-term problems. Accordingly, forregulatory applications of the spectrometer system, the system may beconfigured to detect concentrations of melamine in milk of about 2 ppmor less, about 1 ppm or less, about 0.5 ppm or less, or about 0.1 ppm orless. For consumer uses of the spectrometer system in detectingpotentially harmful levels of melamine in milk, the spectrometer systemmay be configured to detect concentrations of melamine in milk of about5000 ppm or less, about 1000 ppm or less, about 500 ppm or less, about250 ppm or less, or about 100 ppm or less.

For the urine analysis applications described herein, the spectrometersystem may be configured to detect physical concentrations of therelevant substances at specific levels of sensitivity. For example, thespectrometer system may be configured to detect concentrations of sodiumin the range from about 1.2 g/l to about 10 g/l, or about 20 g/l orless, about 15 g/l or less, about 10 g/l or less, about 5 g/l or less,about 2.5 g/l or less, or about 1.2 g/l or less. The spectrometer systemmay be configured to detect concentrations of potassium in the rangefrom about 0.6 g/l to about 4 g/l, or about 10 g/l or less, about 5 g/lor less, about 4 g/l or less, about 2 g/l or less, about 1 g/l or less,or about 0.6 g/l or less. The spectrometer system may be configured todetect concentrations of creatinine in the range from about 0.4 g/l toabout 2.6 g/l, or about 5 g/l or less, about 2.6 g/l or less, about 1.3g/l or less, about 1 g/l or less, about 0.5 g/l or less, or about 0.4g/l or less.

For the oil quality assurance applications described herein, thespectrometer system may be configured to detect oxidation levels ofedible oils at specific levels of sensitivity. For example, in manycountries, the recommended upper limit for the level of total polarcompounds (TPC) in edible oils is about 27% or about 25%. Accordingly,for use in regulatory or consumer applications, the spectrometer systemmay be configured to detect levels of TPC in edible oils of about 27% orless, about 25% or less, about 20% or less, about 15% or less, or about10% or less. The recommended upper limit for the level of free fattyacid (FFA) in edible oils is about 2% in many countries. Accordingly,for use in regulatory or consumer applications, the spectrometer systemmay be configured to detect levels of FFA in edible oils of about 2% orless, about 1.5% or less, about 1% or less, or about 0.5% or less.

The spectrometer system disclosed herein may be arranged in a customconfiguration suited for use in a specific application. Due to itscompact size, the spectrometer 102 may be removably or permanentlyembedded into various objects, appliances, or devices. The spectrometer102 may be embedded in its entirety, for example in the configurationshown in FIG. 1, into another object, appliance, or device.Alternatively or in combination, one or more components of thespectrometer, such as the spectrometer head 120 or components thereofincluding the spectrometer module 160, illumination module 140, andsensor module 130, may be rearranged into a custom configurationsuitable for embedding into a specific object, appliance, or device.

FIGS. 33A and 33B illustrate a spectrometer system integrated into arefrigerator. In FIG. 33A, a compact spectrometer 102 is removablyembedded into a door handle 3310 of a refrigerator 3300. The handle 3310may comprise a docking station 3340 for the spectrometer 102, and thespectrometer may be stored within the docking station when not in use.In FIG. 33B, a compact spectrometer 102 is removably embedded into aninterior compartment such as shelf 3350 of the refrigerator 3300. Theshelf 3350 may comprise a docking station 3340 for the spectrometer 102,which may receive the spectrometer when not in use. The docking station3340 may be configured to charge a battery of the spectrometer when thespectrometer is stored in the docking station. The refrigerator 3300 mayfurther comprise a display screen 3320 integrated with the refrigerator,the screen configured to display results of the measurements performedusing the spectrometer 102. The display screen may, for example, beembedded on a refrigerator door 3330 as shown in FIGS. 33A and 33B. Auser may decide to measure a sample, such as a food item from therefrigerator, using the spectrometer 102, for example to determine thefreshness, safety, and/or quality of the food item. The user may thenremove the spectrometer 102 from the docking station 3340, and holdingthe spectrometer with one hand H, point the spectrometer at the sampleitem S and take a measurement, using the same hand H to controloperation of the spectrometer. The raw measurement data may betransmitted to a remote cloud based server 118 for analysis, asdescribed in further detail herein. The data may be transmitted to theserver either directly from the spectrometer or via another device incommunication with the spectrometer, such as a mobile phone, or aprocessing unit integrated with the refrigerator 3300 and coupled todisplay screen 3320. The analyzed data may be transmitted back to themobile phone or the display screen 3320, in order to display the resultsof the measurement to the user. The results may comprise, for example,an indication of the freshness of the measured sample, and/or furtheractionable insight such as instructions for the consumption of thesample or other recommendations for a course of action related to thesampled item.

FIGS. 34A and 34B illustrate a spectrometer system integrated into amobile phone case. FIG. 34A shows the exterior surface 3410 of themobile phone case 3400 comprising an embedded compact spectrometer 120.FIG. 34B shows the interior surface 3420 of the phone case 3400. Asshown in FIG. 34A, the spectrometer 102 is embedded into the mobilephone case 3400, such that the optical head 120 of the spectrometer isdisposed on the exterior surface 3410 of the phone case. The opticalhead 120 comprises a spectrometer module 160, which includes a detectorconfigured to measure the spectra of a sample. The optical head furthercomprises an illumination module 140, which includes a light sourceconfigured to produce an optical beam configured to illuminate thesample. The optical head may optionally comprise a sensor module 130,which may have one or more sensors configured to collect non-spectralinformation, such as ambient temperature. The mobile phone case 3400 maycomprise an aperture 3430 configured to accommodate a built-in camera ofa mobile phone used with the case. Components of the optical head 120may be orientated such that the field of view of the detector of thespectrometer is disposed on the same plane as the field of view of thecamera. The field of view of the detector may at least partially overlapwith the field of view of camera. The spectrometer 102 may furthercomprise a user input for controlling the operation of the spectrometer,such as operating button 1006. The one or more modules or components ofthe spectrometer 102 may be arranged in a custom configuration, in orderto fit within a phone case 3400 of a particular size and shape.Embedding the spectrometer in a mobile phone case can provide aconvenient way for users to store, carry, and use the spectrometer.

A compact spectrometer as described herein may be physically and/orfunctionally integrated with a smartphone, for example via integrationinto a housing for a smartphone, such as the mobile phone case 3400 asshown in FIGS. 34A and 34B. Alternatively, the spectrometer may bephysically integrated with the smartphone itself as shown in FIG. 34C.For example, the spectrometer can be built into the smartphone,similarly to a smartphone-integrated camera. The smartphone may havevarious functional features supported by an advanced mobile operatingsystem, such as one or more of a camera, accelerometer, or a globalpositioning system (GPS). The housing comprising an integrated compactspectrometer can be configured to communicate with the one or morefunctional features of the smartphone, for example via a connector toconnect to a communication port of the smartphone. Alternatively or incombination, the processor of the compact spectrometer may comprise acommunication circuitry as described herein (e.g., wireless serialcommunication link, such as Bluetooth™), such that the spectrometer cantransmit and receive data to and from the smartphone. A compactspectrometer, thus functionally integrated with a smartphone, can useone or more functional features of the smartphone to enhance theperformance of the spectrometer.

For example, the smartphone-integrated spectrometer can use thefunctionality of the smartphone's camera in order to facilitate theuser's positioning and orientation of the spectrometer with respect tothe sample surface during measurement. The smartphone-integratedspectrometer can comprise a housing such as mobile phone case 3400 shownin FIGS. 34A and 34B, wherein the housing can comprise an aperture 3430configured to accommodate the lens of the smartphone's built-in camera.The housing may be configured to have the aperture disposed adjacent tothe compact spectrometer 102 and component modules thereof, such thatthe smartphone camera may have a field of view that at least partiallyoverlaps with the field of view of the spectrometer. Alternatively, thesmartphone-integrated spectrometer can comprise a spectrometer that isbuilt into the smartphone itself, wherein the spectrometer module and/orthe illumination module of the built-in spectrometer are disposedadjacent the lens of the built-in camera, and configured to have a fieldof view that at least partially overlaps with the field of view of thespectrometer. For example, the distance between the camera lens and theillumination module or spectrometer module of the spectrometer may be inthe range from about 1 mm to about 20 mm, or about 1 mm to about 10 mm.The spectrometer may be configured such that the camera's field of viewcan partially or completely capture the spectrometer's visible opticalbeam, such that the user may view of the visible optical beam via thesmartphone camera before and during measurement with the spectrometer.

Often, the compact spectrometer needs to be positioned close to thesurface of the sample in order to produce optimal measurements. When thespectrometer is disposed on the back side of a smartphone, as shown inthe embodiment of FIGS. 34A-34C, it may be difficult for the user to aimthe spectrometer at a proper spot of the sample surface, and/or at aproper distance from the sample surface. To facilitate the user's aimingof the spectrometer, the spectrometer may be configured to access thesmartphone camera and provide to the user a view of the sample surfacebehind the smartphone. A crosshair or other type of indication layer,indicating the measurement area of the sample surface, may be added tothe view to further aid the user's aiming of the spectrometer.Alternatively or in combination, the visible, reflected portion of thespectrometer's optical beam, described in further detail herein, may beviewed by the user via the camera, such that the user may adjust thespectrometer's position and orientation to appropriately position thevisible beam over the desired measurement area.

In particular, the smartphone-integrated spectrometer may be configuredto account for the distance between the spectrometer and the samplesurface, using a camera built into the smartphone. FIG. 35 illustratesthe parallax between the illumination module 140 of the spectrometer andthe smartphone camera 3500. In many configurations, a parallax may existbetween the illumination module and the camera, since the illuminationmodule and the lens of the camera (which may be disposed within anaperture 3430 of the mobile phone case 3400 as shown in FIGS. 34A and34B, or positioned adjacent the built-in spectrometer as shown in FIG.34C) are often positioned at some distance from one another. As shown inFIG. 35, the illumination module 140 may emit a visible aiming beam 20directed towards the sample surface 3520, defining a measurement area50. The measurement area may appear at different angles to the camera,depending on the distance of the sample surface from the smartphone. Forexample, the sample surface 3520 a may be positioned at a distance 3530a from the plane 3510 of the illumination module, which may coincidewith the rear, exterior surface of the mobile phone case supporting thesmartphone. At distance 3530 a, the measurement area 50 a on the samplesurface 3520 a may appear at an angle 3540 a from the optical axis 3550of the camera. When the smartphone is positioned farther from the samplesurface, for example at a distance 3530 b between the sample surface3520 b and illumination module plane 3510, the measurement area 50 b mayappear at an angle 3540 b different from angle 3540 a. As shown in FIG.35, angle 3540 a, wherein the smartphone is closer to the samplesurface, may be larger than angle 3540 b, wherein the smartphone isfarther from the sample surface. These spectrometer system can beconfigured to allow the user to visualize these differences, and use theperceived differences as feedback in placing the sample surface at anappropriate distance from the spectrometer.

FIGS. 36A-36C illustrate the visualization of the parallax between theillumination module 140 and the smartphone camera 3500 via a display of3600 the smartphone camera. The spectrometer system may be configured toprovide an indication layer on the smartphone camera display, in orderto provide a visualization of the parallax between the illuminationmodule and the camera. The indication layer can comprise, for example, acomputer projected target 3610 configured to align with the visibleoptical beam of the spectrometer, when the spectrometer is positioned atthe correct distance from the sample surface. The indication layer mayalso comprise a crosshair 3620 or other marker indicating the center ofthe computer projected target 3610. FIG. 36A illustrates the smartphonecamera display 3600 when the smartphone is placed at the correct oroptimal distance away from the sample surface 3520. In this instance,the measurement area 50, indicated by the visible aiming beam of thespectrometer projected on the sample surface, may appear substantiallyaligned with the computer projected target 3620. In addition, the centerof the measurement area 50 may appear substantially aligned with thecrosshair 3620. The computer projected target 3610 may appear off-centerfrom the center of the smartphone camera display, since the cameradisplay will frequently be centered about the camera's field of view;the camera's field of view may not be aligned with the visible opticalbeam produced by the illumination module, due to the distance betweenthe camera and the illumination module. A camera display similar to thatshown in FIG. 36A can indicate to the user that thesmartphone-integrated spectrometer is at the correct distance away fromthe sample surface for measurement. FIG. 36B illustrates the smartphonecamera display 3600 when the smartphone is placed at a shorter thanideal distance from the sample surface 3520. In this instance, themeasurement area 50 may appear smaller than the computer projectedtarget 3620, and the center of the measurement area 50 may be misalignedwith the crosshair 3620 such that the measurement area moves fartherfrom the center of the smartphone camera display. A camera displaysimilar to that shown in FIG. 36B can indicate to the user that thesmartphone-integrated spectrometer is too close to the sample surfacefor measurement, and the user may move the spectrometer farther from thesample surface until the camera display shows a view similar to thatshown in FIG. 36A. FIG. 36C illustrates the smartphone camera display3600 when the smartphone is placed at a longer than ideal distance fromthe sample surface 3520. In this instance, the measurement area 50 mayappear larger than the computer projected target 3620, and the center ofthe measurement area 50 may be misaligned with the crosshair 3620 suchthat the measurement area moves closer to the center of the smartphonecamera display. A camera display similar to that shown in FIG. 36C canindicate to the user that the smartphone-integrated spectrometer is toofar from the sample surface for measurement, and the user may move thespectrometer closer to the sample surface until the camera display showsa view similar to that shown in FIG. 36A. The user can thus visualizethe parallax between the camera and the illumination module, andaccordingly adjust the position of the smartphone-integratedspectrometer to place the spectrometer at the correct distance from thesample surface.

In many configurations, a parallax may also exist between theillumination module and the spectrometer module of the spectrometer,since the illumination module and the spectrometer module are oftenseparated by some distance (see, e.g., FIG. 5 showing a schematicdiagram of a spectrometer head 120, wherein the spectrometer module 160and the illumination module 140 are physically separated over the areaof the spectrometer head). The measurement signals generated by thespectrometer may comprise components that change based on the distancebetween the spectrometer and the sample surface, due to this parallaxbetween the illumination module and the spectrometer module. Based onthese distance-dependent changes in measurement signal, the spectrometersystem (the spectrometer and/or a computing device providing a userinterface for the spectrometer, e.g., a mobile app installed on thesmartphone) may be further configured to calculate an estimated distancebetween the sample surface and the smartphone. Further, the spectrometersystem may be configured to reduce the sample distance-dependent changesin measurement signal. If the smartphone camera is used to estimate,based on the parallax between the camera and the spectrometer, thedistance between the sample surface and the spectrometer, thespectrometer system may be configured to apply this estimated distanceto the analysis of spectrometer measurements. For example, thespectrometer system can be configured to reduce or eliminate thecomponents of the measurement signal that can be attributed to thespecific distance as estimated by the camera analysis.

A smartphone-integrated spectrometer can also use the functionality ofthe smartphone camera to measure a sample comprising a plurality ofdifferent components. For example, a smartphone-integrated spectrometermay be configured to measure a plate of food containing a plurality ofdifferent food items. The user interface of the spectrometer system candirect the user to take a picture of the whole plate, using thesmartphone camera. The user interface may subsequently guide the user totake measurements of different areas of the plate, containing differentfood items, with the spectrometer. One or more properties of eachmeasured item may be determined via the item's spectral signature, asdescribed herein (e.g., item's chemical composition/identity, calories,fat content, sodium content, etc.). An information layer may bedisplayed to the user via augmented reality, wherein different fooditems on the plate are marked according to one or more of the items'properties as determined from the spectral data (e.g., high calorieitems may be marked red). Further, computer vision algorithms may beapplied, optionally in combination with a smartphone-integrated depthcamera, to estimate the volume of each item on the plate. Once all itemsare sampled, the spectrometer system may be configured to provide andtrack the full nutritional properties being consumed over the meal.

Smartphone-integrated functionalities may also be used to optimizemeasurement of a sample with the spectrometer. During the measurementperiod, movement of the spectrometer relative to the sample surface isideally minimized, since excessive movement may reduce the accuracy ofthe measurement. If the smartphone comprises an accelerometer, thesmartphone-integrated spectrometer system may be configured to query theaccelerometer for the movement of the smartphone during samplemeasurement with the spectrometer. Alternatively or in combination, ifthe smartphone comprises a camera, images acquired using the cameraduring sample measurement may be used to estimate the relative movementof the sample surface with respect to the smartphone during measurement.The camera may be able to identify instances in which the sample, ratherthan the smartphone, is moving. If movement of the smartphone and/or thesample beyond a set threshold level is detected, the user interface ofthe spectrometer system may provide an indication to the user that thesample measurement should be repeated in a steadier manner.

A smartphone-integrated camera may also be used to improve the analysisof spectral data obtained using a smartphone-integrated spectrometer. Insome instances, some features of a sample may be difficult to extractfrom the sample's spectral data, but relatively easy to extract byanalyzing a picture of the sample. For example, an apple and a pear mayhave a very similar spectral signature, but have distinctly differentappearances. To facilitate the identification of the sample, thesmartphone camera may be used to acquire images of the sample, andcomputer vision algorithms may be applied to the images to extractcertain visual properties of the sample (e.g., shape, proportion, size,color, texture of skin, etc.). The properties extracted from the imagescan be provided to the spectral data analysis algorithms in addition tothe spectral data, to improve the efficiency and accuracy of sampleidentification.

A global positioning system (GPS), often built into a smartphone, canalso be used to improve the analysis of spectral data obtained using asmartphone-integrated spectrometer. As described herein, thespectrometer system can query a database of materials to determine theidentity of the sample material. To help improve the identification ofthe sample material, the spectrometer system may be configured to querythe GPS for the geographical location of the smartphone and hence thesample. The spectrometer system may then use the location information tomore efficiently identify the sample material, for example by narrowingdown the possible identification results to a subset of the database ofmaterials based on geographical location. For example, if the sample isa pill and the spectral data of the sample pill indicates the presenceof acetaminophen, the spectrometer system may compare the sample spectrato the spectra of Tylenol and Panadol in the universal database if theGPS indicates that the user is located in the United States; for asubstantially similar sample pill, if the GPS indicates that the user islocated in Germany, the spectrometer system may compare the samplespectra to the spectra of Enelfa or Perfalgan in the database. If a“match” is not found between the sample spectra and the spectra of oneof the materials filtered based on geographical location, thespectrometer system may continue to search the database for materialsoutside the user's geographical location. In many instances, however, aninitial focusing of the database to results within a specificgeographical location may help to more quickly and accurately identifythe sample material.

Not only can various functional features of a smartphone enhance theperformance of a smartphone-integrated spectrometer, but also thespectrometer can augment one or more functionalities of the smartphone.In particular, information derived from spectral measurements using thesmartphone-integrated spectrometer can be used to improve theperformance of smartphone functionalities that do not comprise measuringthe spectra of samples. For example, the smartphone-integratedspectrometer can enhance the performance of a smartphone camera, forexample by improving a color correction algorithm of the camera. Acommon problem with digital cameras is the white balance issue, whereinthe consistency of colors in acquired images can be compromised by therequirement for different compensation levels for different illuminationtypes. Most smartphone cameras include some sort of white balancecorrection, usually based on heuristic algorithms that estimate theillumination type from the colors of the scene. An integratedspectrometer can provide information on the illumination type, even whenthe spectrometer is tuned to the near infrared (NIR) range, since manycommon illumination types have some spectral signature in the NIR range.For example, daylight has characteristic atmospheric absorption lines,and different variants of daylight (e.g., clear skies, cloudy skies,dusk or dawn, etc.) may be identified from the NIR part of the ambientspectrum. Fluorescent and neon lamps have distinct emission lines thatextend to the NIR, based on which these illumination types may easily beidentified. Incandescent lamps have a distinct black body radiationcurve, so the presence of such lamps as well as the filament temperaturemay be easily derived from the NIR spectrum. White light-emitting diode(LED) illumination includes blue excitation wavelength which is notvisible in the NIR, and yellow phosphor emission that has some minorextension into the NIR. This small extension, alone or in combinationwith a characteristic illumination as detected by the camera, cansuggest the presence of LED illumination. Further, the abundance ofinformation available in the NIR spectrum can also enable the detectionof mixed illumination scenes, a scenario which can pose a technicalchallenge for many traditional white balance algorithms. Theillumination type as determined by the spectrometer, instead of or inaddition to the information in the scene viewed by the camera, may beused to estimate the illumination type, improving the success rate ofthe white balance algorithms and reducing the instances in which apicture with shifted and unnatural colors is acquired.

FIG. 37 illustrates a method 3700 of using a smartphone-integratedspectrometer as described herein. At step 3705, a user may adjust aposition and/or orientation of a smartphone-integrated spectrometer,based on a smartphone camera view of the sample surface. For example, asdescribed herein, an indication layer may be provided in the camera viewto guide the user in determining the correct position of thespectrometer. At step 3710, a user may adjust the distance between thesmartphone-integrated spectrometer and the sample surface, based on theparallax between the camera and the illumination module of thespectrometer as visualized via the camera view of the sample surface. Atstep 3715, a user may measure a plurality of components of a sample,based on the camera view of the sample. As described herein, the cameraview may provide an information layer showing one or more properties ofeach sample component as determined from the spectrometer measurements.At step 3720, a user may adjust or repeat a measurement procedure ifexcessive movement is detected between the smartphone-integratedspectrometer and the sample during measurement, based on accelerometermeasurements or camera images as described herein. At step 3725, a usermay acquire images of the sample during spectrometer measurement usingthe smartphone camera, to aid analysis of the sample by the spectrometersystem. For example, as described herein, a computer vision algorithmmay be applied to extract one or more visual properties of the samplefrom the sample image, and the visual properties may be provided to thespectral data analysis algorithm to facilitate sample identification.The smartphone-integrated spectrometer may be configured toautomatically perform step 3725 when the user is taking a spectrometermeasurement, without requiring explicit user input or instructions toperform the step. At step 3730, the user may obtain the geographicallocation of the sample using a GPS built-in to the smartphone, to aidanalysis of the sample by the spectrometer system as described herein.The smartphone-integrated spectrometer may be configured toautomatically perform step 3730 when the user is taking a spectrometermeasurement, without requiring explicit user input or instructions toperform the step. At step 3735, the user may take spectrometermeasurements of a scene during image acquisition with the smartphonecamera, to identify one or more illumination types in the scene andimprove the color balance of the acquired images based on theillumination type information. The smartphone-integrated spectrometermay be configured to automatically perform step 3735 when the user isacquiring images using the smartphone camera, without requiring explicituser input or instructions to perform the step.

Although the above steps show method 3700 of using asmartphone-integrated spectrometer in accordance with embodiments, aperson of ordinary skill in the art will recognize many variations basedon the teaching described herein. The steps may be completed in adifferent order. Steps may be added or deleted. Some of the steps maycomprise sub-steps. Many of the steps may be repeated as often asnecessary or beneficial.

The spectrometer can also improve the function of one or more softwareapplications installed on the smartphone. The smartphone may compriseone or more software applications configured to provide specificservices to the user of the smartphone, such as software applicationsconfigured to provide one or more applications of spectrometer data asdescribed herein (e.g., soil analysis, plant water content analysis,fertilization status analysis, pill identification, food analysis, gemauthentication, etc.), or software applications configured to provideservices that are related to the one or more applications ofspectrometer data as described herein. Object information derived fromspectral measurements of the sample material can be transmitted to arelevant software application, where the information can be used toimprove the performance of the application. The object data can comprisean identification of the sample and/or one or more components thereof(e.g., identification of sample as an orange, identification of sugarsin the orange; identification of a pill, identification of activeingredients in the pill), a quantification of the sample and/or one ormore components thereof (e.g., % fat per unit volume), and/or adetermination of one or more secondary characteristics of the sample(e.g., sweetness of a piece of fruit, caloric content of a meal, qualityof a gem, authenticity of a pill). The object data can help to improvethe accuracy and reliability of the service provided by the softwareapplication, and/or increase the quantity and quality of the informationprovided to the user by the software application.

For example, the smartphone may comprise a mobile app for diet tracking,configured to track the diet of the user and provide guidelines forreducing calorie intake and/or improving nutrition. Thesmartphone-integrated spectrometer, which can obtain information aboutfood such as calorie and nutritional content based on spectralmeasurements of food as described herein, can be configured to send theinformation to the mobile app. The information derived from spectralmeasurements can provide the mobile app with a more detailed andaccurate account of the user's dietary intake, especially in cases wherethe user has consumed an item that is not catalogued by the mobile app'sexisting database or difficult for the user to identify or quantify.Another example of a software application whose functionality may beimproved using information obtained by the spectrometer is a health andfitness application, configured to track a user's fitness and provideguidelines for exercise. The smartphone-integrated spectrometer may beused to measure a user's body to obtain information relevant to fitness,such as hydration level or body fat estimation, as described herein. Theinformation can be provided to the mobile app, which can use theinformation to better understand the user's fitness state or bodycondition, and provide exercise routines that are custom-tailoredaccordingly.

Experimental Data

FIG. 24 shows exemplary spectra of plums and cheeses, suitable forincorporation in accordance with configurations. The spectra of variouscheeses 710 and the spectra of various plums 720 are shown to havecharacteristic features specific to the material type. Characteristicfeatures include, for example, the general shape of the spectra, thenumber of peaks and valleys in the spectra within a certain wavelengthrange, and the corresponding wavelengths or wavelength ranges of saidpeaks and valleys of the spectra. Based on such characteristic features,a spectrometer system as described herein can determine the generalidentity (e.g., “cheese”, “plum”) of a sampled material, by comparingthe measured spectral data against the spectral data of variousmaterials stored in the universal database, as described herein. WhileFIG. 24 shows the spectra of plums and cheeses in the wavelength rangeof about 830 nm to about 980 nm, the spectra may be analyzed at anywavelength range that comprises one or more differences between thecharacteristic features of the spectra of the different materials.

FIG. 25 shows exemplary spectra of cheeses comprising various fatlevels, suitable for incorporation in accordance with configurations.The spectra share general characteristic features in the wavelengthrange of about 840 nm to about 970 nm that enable their identificationas spectra of cheeses 710, but also have differences in their featuresthat correspond to differences in the fat levels of the measuredcheeses. In the spectra shown in FIG. 25, the spectra trend from havingrelatively lower fat content to relatively higher fat content in thedirection indicated by arrow 712. For example, the spectra of cheeseshaving higher fat levels tend to have more distinct secondary peaks 714compared to the secondary peaks 716 of the spectra of cheeses havinglower fat levels. The secondary peaks 714 of the high-fat cheeses alsotend to be shifted to the right (i.e., to higher wavelengths) comparedto the secondary peaks 716 of the low-fat cheeses; in FIG. 25, thesecondary peaks 714 of the high-fat cheeses are centered at around 920nm, whereas the secondary peaks 716 of the low-fat cheeses are centeredat around 900 nm.

FIG. 26 shows exemplary spectra of plums comprising various sugarlevels, suitable for incorporation in accordance with configurations.The spectra share general characteristic features in the wavelengthrange of about 860 nm to about 980 nm that enable their identificationas spectra of plums 720, but also have differences in their featuresthat correspond to differences in the sugar levels of the measuredplums. In the spectra shown in FIG. 26, the spectra trend from havingrelatively lower sugar content to relatively higher sugar content in thedirection indicated by arrow 722. For example, the spectra of plumshaving higher sugar levels tend to be shifted to the right (i.e., tohigher wavelengths) by approximately 5-7 nm compared to the spectra ofplums having lower sugar levels.

As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, differences in one or more spectralfeatures among spectra of the same general material type can provideinformation regarding the different levels of sub-components (e.g., fat,sugar) of the material. The spectrometer system as described herein mayidentify such differences by comparing the measured spectral dataagainst the spectral data of a specific material type stored in theuniversal database, and provide the user with information regarding thecomposition of the measured material.

FIGS. 27-29 show exemplary spectra of various components of urine in anaqueous solution, suitable for incorporation into a method of urineanalysis in accordance with configurations. For example, thespectrometer system may be used to detect the levels of creatinine,sodium, and potassium in a sample of urine, and the sodium and potassiumlevels may be normalized with respect to the creatinine levels in orderto provide a meaningful measure of the user's salt intake. Such a methodfor urine analysis using the spectrometer system is described in furtherdetail herein with reference to FIG. 23.

FIG. 27 shows exemplary spectra of aqueous solutions comprising variouslevels of creatinine, suitable for incorporation in accordance withconfigurations. The spectra share general characteristic features in thewavelength range of about 1620 nm to about 1730 nm that enable theiridentification as spectra of solutions containing creatinine 730, butalso have differences in their features that correspond to differencesin the relative levels of the measured creatinine. In the spectra shownin FIG. 27, the spectra trend from having relatively lower creatininelevels to relatively higher creatinine levels in the direction indicatedby arrow 732. For example, the spectra of solutions having higher levelsof creatinine tend to have higher peaks 734, centered at about 1703 nm,compared to the corresponding peaks 735, also centered at about 1703 nm,of the spectra of solutions having lower levels of creatinine. Also, thespectra of solutions having higher levels of creatinine tend to havelower valleys 736, centered at about 1677 nm, compared to thecorresponding valleys 737, also centered at about 1677 nm, of thespectra of solutions having lower levels of creatinine.

FIG. 28 shows exemplary spectra of aqueous solutions comprising variouslevels of sodium, suitable for incorporation in accordance withconfigurations. The spectra share general characteristic features in thewavelength range of about 1350 nm to about 1550 nm that enable theiridentification as spectra of solutions containing sodium 740, but alsohave differences in their features that correspond to differences in therelative levels of the measured sodium. In the spectra shown in FIG. 28,the spectra trend from having relatively lower sodium levels torelatively higher sodium levels in the direction indicated by arrow 742.For example, the spectra of solutions having higher levels of sodiumtend to have higher peaks 744 (centered at about 1388 nm) and 746(centered at about 1450 nm) compared to the corresponding peaks 745(centered at about 1390 nm) and 747 (centered at about 1444 nm) of thespectra of solutions having lower levels of sodium. Also, the spectra ofsolutions having higher levels of sodium tend to have lower valleys 748(centered at about 1415 nm) compared to the corresponding valleys 749(centered at about 1415 nm) of the spectra of solutions having lowerlevels of sodium.

FIG. 29 shows exemplary spectra of aqueous solutions comprising variouslevels of potassium, suitable for incorporation in accordance withconfigurations. The spectra share general characteristic features in thewavelength range of about 820 nm to about 980 nm that enable theiridentification as spectra of solutions containing potassium 750, butalso have differences in their features that correspond to differencesin the relative levels of the measured sodium. In the spectra shown inFIG. 29, the spectra trend from having relatively lower potassium levelsto relatively higher potassium levels in the direction indicated byarrow 752. For example, the spectra of solutions having higher levels ofpotassium tend to have higher peaks 754 (centered at about 942 nm)compared to the corresponding peaks 755 (centered at about 942 nm) ofthe spectra of solutions having lower levels of potassium. Also, thespectra of solutions having higher levels of potassium tend to havelower valleys 756 (centered at about 968 nm) compared to thecorresponding valleys 757 (centered at about 968 nm) of the spectra ofsolutions having lower levels of potassium.

As shown in FIGS. 27-29, differences in one or more spectral featuresamong spectra of solutions having similar general compositions (e.g.,creatinine, sodium, potassium) can provide a means for obtaining arelative measurement of the level of each component. The spectrometersystem as described herein may identify such differences by comparingthe measured spectral data against the spectral data for a specificmaterial component stored in the universal database, and provide theuser with information regarding the composition of the measured sample.

The spectra of cheeses shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 have been acquired usinga spectrometer system and device in accordance with configurations. Thespectra of plums, shown in FIGS. 24 and 26, and the spectra ofcreatinine, sodium, and potassium in aqueous solutions, shown in FIGS.27-29, show spectra suitable for incorporation in accordance withconfigurations described herein, and a person of ordinary skill in theart can configure the spectrometer to make suitable spectralmeasurements without undue experimentation. For example, in order toprovide measurements of creatinine levels as described herein, thespectrometer device may be configured to comprise a combination of thevarious optical structures disclosed herein. One such exemplaryconfiguration may comprise a filter-based optics structure as describedherein, combined with multiple illumination sources as described herein.Another exemplary configuration may comprise modifying the filter-basedoptics structure disclosed herein to enable its detection of alower-intensity signal of creatinine that falls within the detectedwavelength range of the optical system. Alternatively or in combination,a substance may be added to urine samples to increase the signalintensity of the samples at the wavelength ranges detected by theoptical systems described herein. The processor of the spectrometersystem can be configured with instructions to perform specific steps inorder to provide actionable insights or information to the user. Forexample, for the urine analysis method as described herein, theprocessor may be configured to compare the ratio of sodium tocreatinine, in order to normalize the results presented to the user.

The methods and apparatus disclosed herein can be incorporated withcomponents from spectrometers known in the art, such as spectrometersdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,284,401, 7,236,243, U.S. Publication No.2015/0036138, U.S. Pat. No. 9,060,113, and U.S. Publication No.2014/0061486, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference.

Although the detailed description contains many specifics, these shouldnot be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure but merely asillustrating different examples and aspects of the present disclosure.It should be appreciated that the scope of the disclosure includes otherembodiments not discussed in detail above. Various other modifications,changes and variations which will be apparent to those skilled in theart may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of the methodand apparatus of the present disclosure provided herein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as describedherein.

While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been shownand described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the artthat such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerousvariations, changes, and substitutions will be apparent to those skilledin the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments ofthe present disclosure described herein may be employed withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scopeof the present invention shall be defined solely by the scope of theappended claims and the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system to measure spectra of a sample,comprising: a spectrometer to measure the spectra of the sample; aprocessing device coupled to the spectrometer, the processing devicecomprising a processor and a wireless communication circuitry to coupleto the spectrometer and communicate with a remote server, the processorcomprising instructions to transmit spectral data of the sample to theremote server and receive object data in response to the spectral datafrom the remote server; wherein the spectrometer is physicallyintegrated with an apparatus comprising a mobile phone case, whereininformation obtained with the spectrometer is provided to a functionalfeature of the processing device to improve a performance of thefunctional feature of the processing device, and wherein thefunctionality of the processing device comprises a camera, and theinformation obtained with the spectrometer is provided to the camera toimprove a color correction algorithm of the camera.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the color correction algorithm comprises a whitebalancing algorithm.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the informationobtained with the spectrometer comprises one or more illumination typesof one or more sources of illumination present in a scene imaged by thecamera, the one or more illumination types determined via an analysis ofthe spectral data of the scene obtained with the spectrometer.